Objective: The aim of the study was to verify the use of covered removable self-expandable metal stents (CRSEMS) in benign biliary disease after a failure of traditional endoscopic treatment.
Methods: A total of 23 patients who failed traditional endoscopic therapy were enrolled in the study and treated with CRSEMS.
Results: Among all the patients, 11 had a bile leak and 12 suffered benign biliary stenosis. Technical success and immediate clinical success were achieved in all the patients. The overall long-term clinical success rate after stent removal was 100%. The CRSEMS were left in place for a median of 47 days (range 30-240 days). Immediate complications occurred in one patient, stent migration in two and overgrowth of inflammatory tissue in the stent in two.
Conclusion: CRSEMS is an excellent treatment option for patients with benign biliary disease.
© 2012 The Authors. Journal of Digestive Diseases © 2012 Chinese Medical Association Shanghai Branch, Chinese Society of Gastroenterology, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.