Effect of Percutaneous Endobiliary Radiofrequency Ablation in Malignant Bile Stenosis

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of the percutaneous endobiliary radiofrequency ablation (ERFA) method, which is used to increase stent patency in malignant biliary strictures. Material and Methods: A total of 25 patients, 9 (36%) female and 16 (64%) male, who developed malignant biliary stenosis secondary to various advanced tumors and underwent ERFA and metallic stenting after percutaneous biliary drainage were retrospectively evaluated. The types of malignancies causing obstruction and the follow-up after the procedure were evaluated to demonstrate the median survival and stent patency values of the patients. Stent patency and survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: The results of the study demonstrated that 17 (68%) out of these 25 patients displayed a significant decrease in their first-week postoperative bilirubin values, with a reduction of greater than 50% compared to the pre-biliary drainage values. The study determined that this treatment approach's overall clinical success rate was 68%. Stent occlusion developed within 180 days in 8 (32%) out of the 25 patients who underwent ERFA and metallic stenting. Additionally, 18 (%72) patients died as a result of malignancy progression. The mortality rates at post-treatment 30 and 180 days were determined to be 24% and 72%, respectively. The median survival and stent patency times were 65 and 70 days, respectively. Conclusion: Percutaneous ERFA and metallic stenting have the potential to improve survival and stent patency, especially in selected patient groups with distal biliary stenosis. Randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm these results.