Endoscopic stenting versus surgical bypass in advanced malignant distal bile duct obstruction: cost-effectiveness analysis.

Objective: Palliative treatment of obstructive jaundice from advanced tumour of the distal bile duct is controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes and costs between endoscopic stent insertion and surgery.

Methods: The clinical data for 116 patients treated with either endoscopic plastic stenting (65 patients) or surgical bypass (51 patients) were reviewed and analysed.