Treatment of Benign Biliary Strictures in Chronic Pancreatitis by Self-Expandable Metal Stents.

Kahl, Stefan; Zimmermann, Sandra; Glasbrenner, Bernhard; Pross, Matthias; Schulz, Hans-Ulrich; McNamara, Deirdre; Malfertheiner, Peter

Aim: To determine the efficacy the value of self-expandable metal stents in patients with benign biliary strictures caused by chronic pancreatitis. Method: 61 patients with symptomatic common bile duct strictures caused by alcoholic chronic pancreatitis were treated by interventional endoscopy. Results: Initial endoscopic drainage was successful in all cases, with complete resolution of obstructive jaundice. Of 45 patients who needed definitive therapy after a 12-months interval of interventional endoscopy, 12 patients were treated with repeated plastic stent insertion (19.7%) or by surgery (n = 30; 49.2%). In 3 patients a self-expandable metal stent was inserted into the common bile duct (4.9%). In patients treated with metal stents, no symptoms of biliary obstruction occurred during a mean follow-up period of 37 (range 18-53) months. The long-term success rate of treatment with metal stents was 100%. Conclusions: Endoscopic drainage of biliary obstruction by self-expandable metal stents provides excellent long-term results. To identify patients who benefit most from self-expandable metal stent insertion, further, prospective randomized studies are necessary. Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

Digestive Diseases, 2002, Vol 20, Issue 2, p199

0257-2753

Academic Journal

10.1159/000067487