Metal Stents Outshine Plastic Stents in Biliary Drainage for Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma

A retrospective international study compared the effectiveness of self-expanding metal stents (SEMs) to plastic stents for preoperative biliary drainage in resectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PCCA). Among 474 patients who received stents, SEMs showed significantly lower rates of stent failure and cholangitis. Both stenting methods led to comparable surgical outcomes, but SEMs excelled in preventing stent dysfunction. The findings suggest that SEMs are a more effective choice for preoperative biliary drainage in resectable PCCA patients, demonstrating their potential in improving clinical outcomes.