Biliary Drainage in Palliative and Curative Intent European Patients with Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma and malignant hilar obstruction: a retrospective single center analysis

Background and Aims: Relief of cholestasis in hilar cholangiocarcinoma is commonly undertaken in both curative and palliative treatment concepts. There are numerous open questions with regard to the ideal biliary drainage strategy – including what constitutes clinical success (CS). In the existing data, curative patients and patients from the Western world are underrepresented. Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with complex malignant hilar obstruction (Bismuth-Corlette II and higher) due to cholangiocarcinoma who underwent biliary drainage at a German referral center between 2010 and 2020. We aimed to define CS and complication rates and directly compare outcomes in curative and palliative patients. Results 56 curative and 72 palliative patients underwent biliary drainage. In patients with curative intent, CS was achieved significantly more often regardless of what definition of CS was applied (e.g., total serum bilirubin (TSB) < 2 mg/dl: 66.1% vs. 27.8%, p = < 0.001, > 75% reduction of TSB: 57.1% vs. 29.2%, p = 0.003). This observation held true when only subgroups with the same Bismuth-Corlette stage were compared. Moreover, palliative patients experienced a significantly greater percentage of adverse events (33.3% vs 12.5%, p = 0.01). Curative intent treatment and TSB at presentation were predictive factors of CS regardless of what definition of CS was applied. The observed CS rates are comparable to those published series of curative patients, but inferior to reported CS rates in palliative series mostly from Asia. Conclusions Biliary drainage in complex malignant hilar obstruction due to cholangiocarcinoma is more likely to be successful and less likely to cause adverse events in curative patients compared to palliative patients.