Aim: To investigate whether an uncovered self-expandable metal stent (UCSEMS) with a large diameter could prevent recurrent biliary obstruction (RBO).
Methods: Thirty-eight patients with malignant biliary obstruction underwent treatment with an UCSEMS with a 14-mm diameter (Niti-S 14). Retrospectively, we evaluated technical and functional success rate, RBO rate, time to RBO, survival time, and adverse events in these patients.
Results: Stent placement success and functional success were achieved in all patients. Two patients (5.3%) had RBO due to tumor ingrowth or overgrowth. The median time to RBO was 190 (range, 164-215) d. The median survival time was 120 (range, 18-502) d. The 6-mo non-RBO rate was 91%. Other adverse events other than RBO occurred as follows: Acute cholecystitis, post-ERCP pancreatitis, hemobilia, and fever without exacerbation of liver injury, and liver abscess in 4 (10.3%), 3 (7.9%), 2 (5.3%), 1 (2.6%), and 1 (2.6%), respectively. Migration of the stents was not observed.
Conclusion: Niti-S 14 is considered to be a preferable metal stent because of a low rate of RBO with no migration.
Keywords: Adverse event; Bile duct cancer; Ingrowth; Malignant biliary obstruction; Metal stent; Migration; Overgrowth; Pancreatic cancer; Pancreatitis; Recurrent biliary obstruction.