Table 1.
Characteristics of patients (n=222) in the study group.
| Age | 69.2 (13.1) years (range 26-99) | ||
| Males | n=93 (41.9%) | ||
| Patients with PTCS prior to stenting (two-stage procedure) | n=172 (77.5%) | ||
| Type of tumour | Level of obstruction | ||
| Pancreatic cancer | n=64 (28.8%) | Proximal | n=145 (65.3%) |
| Cholangiocarcinoma | n=56 (25.2%) | Type I | n=69 (31.1%) |
| Metastatic tumours in liver or LN | n=51 (23%) | Type II | n=22 (9.9%) |
| Gastric cancer | n=22 (9.9%) | Type IIIa | n=16 (7.2%) |
| Gallbladder cancer | n=15 (6.8%) | Type IIIb | n=21 (9.5%) |
| Hepatocellular carcinoma | n=7 (3.2%) | Type IV | n=17 (7.7%) |
| Papilla Vater cancer | n=7 (3.2%) | Distal | n=77 (34.7%) |
Age is expressed as mean (standard deviation). Proximal strictures are classified according to Bismuth-Corlette classification. PTCS – percutaneous transhepatic cholangiostomy; LN – lymph nodes.