title: Haemorrhage due to erosion of a metal biliary stent through the duodenal wall.
abstract: Self-expanding, metal biliary stents have recently been used in malignant obstructive jaundice as their large diameter reduces the likelihood of occlusion by biliary sludge and bacterial biofilm. However, there is a significant rate of late obstruction by tumour overgrowth and infiltration through the wire mesh. Our case of stent erosion through the duodenal wall, resulting in massive haemorrhage, is a hitherto unreported serious complication of the Wallstent (Schneider). Its occurrence may be suggested by continuous upper abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding or late expansion of the stent.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology/Liver Unit, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ee
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Laurence
mesh_terms: D004378:Duodenal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015607:Stents