Endoscopic palliation and survival in malignant biliary obstruction

• Published in: Digestive diseases and sciences Vol. 46; no. 10; pp. 2147 - 2153
• Main Authors: WEAVER, S. A, STACEY, B. S. F, HAYWARD, S. J, TAYLOR, G. J, ROONEY, N. I, ROBERTSON, D. A. F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.10.2001; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; Cholestasis, Extrahepatic - therapy; Diseases of the digestive system; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Palliative Care; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Retrospective Studies; Stents; Human; Biliary tract; Endoprosthesis; Instrumentation therapy; Palliative treatment; Malignant tumor; Biliary tract disease; Obstruction; Stent; Survival; Endoscopic approach; Digestive diseases; Endoscopy; Tumoral compression
• ISSN: 0163-2116; 1573-2568
• DOI: 10.1023/a:1011950612554

Malignant biliary obstruction is a common problem that is regarded as having a poor prognosis and is usually managed with palliation. Our aim was to investigate the survival of 182 consecutive subjects with malignant biliary obstruction where management was palliative with an [corrected] endoscopically placed biliary stent. We undertook a retrospective longitudinal study with date of death or confirmed survival of at least 23 months, as the primary end point. Diagnosis and blood indices from the 24 hr prior to first ERCP were obtained from hospital records. Of the 182 eligible subjects follow-up of date of death or confirmed survival of at least 23 months was obtained in 181 (99.5%). Of these 181 patients, 37 (20.4%) survived for more than one year. Histological confirmation was obtained in 47 of 182 subjects (25.8%). Increased age at first ERCP predicted increased survival (P < 0.05). In conclusion, in patients with malignant biliary obstruction, where management was endoscopic and palliative, 20.4% survived for more than one year with increased age at diagnosis being the only significant predictive marker.