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World J Gastrointest Endosc. Jul 16, 2013; 5(7): 332-339
Published online Jul 16, 2013. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v5.i7.332
Published online Jul 16, 2013. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v5.i7.332
Evaluation of fully covered self-expanding metal stents in benign biliary strictures and bile leaks
David Lalezari, Department of Medicine, St Mary Medical Center, Long Beach, California, CA 90802, United States
Inder Singh, Sofiya Reicher, Viktor Ernst Eysselein, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Torrance, California, CA 90502, United States
Author contributions: Lalezari D contributed to review and analysis of data; Eysselein VE and Reicher S contributed to analysis of data; Singh I was the editor.
Correspondence to: David Lalezari, MD, Department of Medicine, St Mary Medical Center, 757 Westwood Plaza, Long Beach, CA 90802, United States. drdlalezari@hotmail.com
Telephone: +1-818-4304000 Fax: +1-818-7088142
Received: October 8, 2012
Revised: March 14, 2013
Accepted: April 9, 2013
Published online: July 16, 2013
Revised: March 14, 2013
Accepted: April 9, 2013
Published online: July 16, 2013
Core Tip
Core tip: We studied 17 patients with Benign Biliary Strictures (BBS) (n = 12) and bile leaks (n = 5) from July 2007 to February 2012 that had fully covered self-expanding metal stents (FCSEMs) placed. Twelve of 17 patients had failed prior stent placement or exchange. After a median stent time of 63 d, we found 16 of 17 patients (94%) had complete resolution of biliary strictures and bile leaks. We reported complications in 5 of 17 patients (29%) which included: migration (n = 2), stent clogging (n = 1), cholangitis (n = 1), and sepsis with hepatic abscess (n = 1).