Poor recruitment

Malignant bile duct obstruction is a common sequela of pancreatic cancers or distal bile duct cancers, and its development can hinder the use of chemotherapy, decrease patient quality of life, and decrease survival. To relieve obstructive jaundice as a result of the obstruction, endoscopic stent placement is usually required. The use self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) have been shown to result in a longer patency times as compared with plastic stents. However, despite improvements in materials and stent design, stent obstruction still occurs in 13% to 44% of the patients. Tumor in-growth is the most common mechanism of stent obstruction.

Recently, the use of endoscopic biliary radiofrequency ablation (EBRFA) have been described in patients suffering from inoperable malignant distal common bile duct (CBD) obstruction. The procedure uses heat energy to cause local tumour tissue death, resulting in re-opening of the bile duct lumen. The procedure has the potential of reducing the rate of stent obstruction after SEMS and also prolonging survival. The safety profile appears to be comparable that of placement of SEMS alone without added complications (<10%). The aim of the current study is to compare the efficacy of EBRFA with the addition of SEMS to SEMS alone in a randomized controlled trial.We hypothesize that the application of EBRFA can reduce recurrent biliary obstruction after SEMS.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥ 18 years old with informed consent
2. Histologically (preferred) or radiologically confirmed distal malignant bile duct tumors
3. Inoperability by staging, comorbidities or patient wishes
4. Distal tumors 2cm away from the portal hilum
5. Bilirubin > 50umol/L at diagnosis

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Periampullary tumours
2. Multiple hepatic metastases with significant blockage of one or more liver segments (if no segment blockage, metastasis is not an exclusion criteria)
3. Presence of main portal vein thrombosis
4. Prior SEMS placement
5. Prior Billroth II or roux-en Y reconstruction
6. History of bleeding disorder or use of anticoagulation
7. Child's B/C cirrhosis
8. Pregnancy
9. Performance status ECOG ≥3 (confined to bed / chair > 50% waking hours)
10. Presence of other malignancy
11. Presence of gastric outlet obstruction
12. Life expectancy < 3months