Predictive factors for survival of patients with inoperable malignant distal biliary strictures: a practical management guideline.

Background: Stenting is the treatment of choice for inoperable malignant strictures of the common bile duct. Criteria for the choice of stents (plastic versus metallic) remain controversial because predicting survival is difficult.

Aims: To define prognostic factors in order to improve the cost effectiveness of endoscopic palliation.

A randomized trial of endoscopic drainage methods for inoperable malignant strictures of the common bile duct.

Background: Although metallic stents remain patent longer than plastic stents, the optimal palliation of inoperable malignant biliary strictures remains controversial because of the high cost of metallic stents and short patient survival.

Methods: A total of 101 patients (mean age 72.5+/-12.