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Surgical oncology

PBD—better stents in specialized centers are needed

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A recent trial concluded that preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) in patients with pancreatic head cancer increases complications but is unlikely to change clinical practice. The difference in the outcomes reported was because of excessive complications in the PBD group using plastic stents. We argue that these patients need treatment in regional pancreatic cancer centers using low-occlusion metal stents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Surgery and Oncology, Liverpool CRUK Cancer Center, School of Cancer Studies and the NIHR Pancreas Biomedical Research Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Daulby Street, L69 3GA, Liverpool, UK

    John P. Neoptolemos & Christopher M. Halloran

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  1. John P. Neoptolemos
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  2. Christopher M. Halloran
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Correspondence to John P. Neoptolemos.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Neoptolemos, J., Halloran, C. PBD—better stents in specialized centers are needed. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 7, 244–246 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2010.45

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