The Pierced Colon: When Biliary Stents Go the Wrong Way

ACG Case Rep J. 2023 Apr 3;10(3):e01019. doi: 10.14309/crj.0000000000001019. eCollection 2023 Mar.

Abstract

Bowel perforation of biliary stents is a rare complication of biliary stenting. We report the successful endoscopic treatment of a 78-year-old man with a straight biliary plastic stent perforating the ascending colon without underlying structural abnormality in the affected segment. Perforation was detected incidentally during computed tomography; the patient had been under continued antibiotic therapy for liver abscess. Stent extraction was performed by using an endoscopic snare; the site of perforation was closed with through-the-scope clips. The patient remained asymptomatic. In addition, we reviewed published cases of perforated biliary stents and outlined that most perforations are caused by straight plastic stents.

Keywords: biliary stent; endoscopic treatment; perforation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports