Management of obstructed biliary endoprostheses.

In five patients with bile duct obstruction, a previously inserted endoprosthesis became occluded. After repeat percutaneous biliary drainage, the prostheses were mechanically unclogged, removed, or removed and replaced. No patient required surgery, and no prosthesis reoccluded. We discuss technique for deoccluding and, if necessary, removing and replacing obstructed stents.