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Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is often used to provide internal biliary drainage (as opposed to percutaneous biliary drains) in patients with cholangiocarcinoma. Few large studies have been performed regarding outcomes following ERCP in patients with this disease. In a recent retrospective review, investigators evaluated outcomes in 199 patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma who underwent approximately 500 endoscopic stenting procedures.
Patients received unilateral or bilateral stents, plastic or metal, at the discretion of the endoscopist. Technical success was 98%, whereas clinical success (based on bilirubin reduction) was 70%. Patients who had metal stents placed were almost four times more likely to experien…