[Palliative therapy of malignant bile duct stenoses].

The majority of patients (up to 80%) with malignant obstructive jaundice will not be eligible for curative treatment. Palliative treatment of choice is the percutaneous or endoscopic placement of endoprostheses with a low periprocedural morbidity and mortality. The development of expandable metallic stents led to improved patency rates compared to plastic endoprostheses. Reocclusion rates of approximately 20%, however, necessitate further improvements to optimize design and materials of these stents.