Question:
What is the difference between exchange and conversion for biliary drainage?
Answer:
An exchange refers to changing out the existing catheter for the same type of device or switching an existing internal-external catheter to an external catheter. A conversion refers to switching an existing external catheter to an internal-external catheter. If either of these types of existing catheters are switched for a completely internal drainage device, this is neither an exchange or a conversion; this is a stent placement through an existing access.