A new type of biliary
stent was inserted in 45 patients with symptomatic biliary
strictures, 40 malignant and five benign. The
stent is made of
stainless steel woven into a tubular mesh. It is introduced in compressed form on
a 7- or 9-F delivery
catheter and released at the site of the
stricture. Fully open, the
stent has an internal diameter of 1 cm. The 30-day mortality was 7%. The early (less than 72 hours) complication rate was 16%. Recurrent
jaundice occurred in 42%; late complications of
sepsis without
jaundice occurred in an additional 11%. None of the
stents migrated. This new design allows a large-diameter
stent to be inserted percutaneously without increased risk of complications. The frequency of recurrent
jaundice, however, was not less than that observed with
plastic stents, but this may have reflected the spectrum of patients treated, many with hilar
strictures and previous interventions.