Metallic biliary stents for malignant obstructive jaundice: a review

Figure 1 Currently available expandable metallic prostheses top to bottom: conventional Z, Spiral Z, Diamond, covered and uncovered Wallstent, and Za stent.

Figure 2 Dual Wallstents in patient with multiple biliary strictures from metastatic colorectal carcinoma. Arrows depict Biliary Endocoil placed for mucosal hyperplasia and recurrent jaundice.

Figure 3 Diamond stent (large arrows) placed into the biliary tree, and Wallstent (small arrow) placed into the pancreatic duct in patient with islet cell cancer and recurrent pancreaticobiliary sepsis.

Figure 4 Za stent placement in patient with distal malignant biliary stricture.

Figure 5 Spiral Z stent inserted in patient with obstructive jaundice from cholangiocarcinoma.

Figure 6 Expandable biliary endoprostheses imbed in tissue and cannot be retrieved. The exception is the biliary endocoil which can theoretically be retrieved by grabbing the distal end with a foreign body retriever.