TABLE 1.
Patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics (n = 46)
| Age, median (range), years | 77.5 (56–92) |
|---|---|
| Sex, n (%) | |
| Male | 24 (52.2) |
| Female | 22 (47.8) |
| Tumor etiology, n (%) | |
| Cholangiocarcinoma | 26 (56.5) |
| Gallbladder cancer | 9 (19.6) |
| Lymph node metastasis from a cancer at another site | 5 (10.9) |
| Pancreatic cancer | 3 (6.5) |
| Others | 3 (6.5) |
| Tumor stage, n (%) | |
| Resectable | 3 (6.5) |
| Locally advanced | 10 (21.7) |
| Metastatic | 33 (71.7) |
| Performance status, n (%) | |
| 0‐2 | 45 (97.8) |
| 3 | 1 (2.2) |
| Bismuth classification, n (%) | |
| II | 17 (37.0) |
| IIIa | 2 (4.3) |
| IIIb | 5 (10.9) |
| IV | 22 (47.8) |
| Previous biliary drainage, n (%) | |
| None | 13 (28.3) |
| Plastic stent | 16 (34.8) |
| ENBD* | 8 (17.4) |
| Plastic stent + ENBD* | 9 (19.6) |
| Chemotherapy after stenting, n (%) | 15 (32.6) |
| Hospital, n (%) | |
| High‐volume care referral center | 37 (80.4) |
| Non‐high‐volume center | 9 (19.6) |
Abbreviation: ENBD, endoscopic nasobiliary drainage.