Abstract
We studied the results of endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD) for malignant hilar biliary obstruction using unilateral drainage.
We examined the first and last EBD, drainage period, and chemotherapy rate in 43 patients with malignant hilar biliary obstruction.
The initial EBD in 18 patients in whom resection was possible before drainage was unilateral drainage in 17 patients (endoscopic nasobiliary drainage : ENBD : in 3, plastic stent : PS : in 14) and bilateral PS placements in 1 patient. Thirteen patients (72.2%) eventually underwent unilateral drainage ; the mean preoperative drainage period was 9.3 days. The initial EBD in 25 patients who had not undergone resection was unilateral drainage in 22 patients (PS in 17, metallic stent (MS) in 5) and bilateral drainage in 3 (PS in 2, MS in 1) . Seventeen patients (68%) eventually underwent unilateral drainage. Drainage could be performed in 18 of 24 patients (75%) scheduled to undergo chemotherapy ; the mean drainage period was 24.7 days.
Unilateral drainage was effective in many patients.
