The effect of preoperative biliary stenting on postoperative complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Background: Preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) in jaundiced patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy remains controversial.

Methods: Patients presenting with obstructive jaundice who subsequently underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy from January 1996 to June 2002 were included in the study (n = 212). Patients with preoperative biliary stents (n = 154) were compared with patients without preoperative drainage (n = 58).