Will endoscopic ultrasound-guided bile duct drainage replace ERCP?

The authors reflect on the viability of the endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided bile duct drainage to replace the traditional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). They compare EUS studies that use self-expanding metallic stent in treatment of patients with distal malignant biliary obstruction. The authors believe that replacement of the conventional ERCP-guided transpapillary bile duct drainage could only be possibly with standardized echoendoscope and specialized stents.