Plastic versus self-expanding metallic stents for malignant hilar biliary obstruction: a prospective multicenter observational cohort study.

Background: There are few comparative data as to whether plastic or self-expanding metallic stents are preferable for palliating malignant hilar biliary obstruction.

Methods: Thirty-day outcomes of consecutive endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographies performed for malignant hilar obstruction at 6 private and 5 university centers were assessed prospectively.

Results: Patients receiving plastic (N=28) and metallic stents (N=34) were similar except that metallic stent recipients more often had: Bismuth III or IV tumors (16/34 vs.