Is ERCP still the elective primary biliary drainage technique in patients with malignant distal biliary obstruction? Response to Garcia-Cano et al.

Abstract

We have read the letter from García-Cano et al. regarding our Editorial and are very grateful for the response as it contributes to deepening the debate we aim to generate on the topic. We are aware that changing a paradigm is always difficult, takes years, and requires publication of good quality studies. However, the way to progress in medicine and provide the best for patients involves questioning existing paradigms and considering the possibility of changing them. Currently, the outcomes of endoscopic ultrasonography guided transmural biliary drainage (EUS-TBD) have been progressively improving and the rate of adverse events (AE) has considerably decreased. The data currently available suggest that primary EUS-TBD in a specific setting is not inferior to ERCP drainage and may even entail a lower rate of AE.