Fully covered metal stents vs plastic stents for preoperative biliary drainage in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer without neoadjuvant chemotherapy: A multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial.

Background/purpose: Whether a fully covered self-expanding metal stent (FCSEMS) or plastic stent (PS) is preferable for preoperative biliary drainage in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer (RPC) is controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of drainage with FCSEMS for obstructive jaundice caused by RPC without neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods: Seventy patients with RPC who required preoperative biliary drainage were randomly assigned 1:1 to the FCSEMS or PS group.

Comparison of modified introducer method with pull method for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: prospective randomized study.

Aim: The pull method is associated with a high incidence of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) site infection. The introducer method has been shown to be less likely to cause infection, because it avoids the passage of a tube through the oropharynx. The aim of the present study was to compare the modified introducer method with the pull method for PEG.