Endoprosthetics with plastic stents has been used to restore bile drainage through the percutaneous or endoscopic method since the late 1970s. The long-term results cannot be considered satisfactory due to the high incidence of jaundice recurrence which is caused by the occlusion of plastic stents with a biliary sludge (accumulation of cholesterol crystals, pigment crystals, bacteria and calcium salts). Cholesterol is considered to be the main component of biliary sludge that stimulates the reduction of the stent lumen. The average lifetime of stents is 3–6 months.
