 Recently, ECDS has been described as an alternative to percutaneous biliary drainage in patients with failed ERCP. The procedure is also associated with potential advantages as compared to conventional ERCP. In particular, the risk of tumour ingrowth into the stent placed after ECDS is low and stent patency rates may be better than ERCP. Thus, the aim of the current study is to compare primary ECDS versus ERCP with CSEMS in unresectable malignant distal CBD strictures. 