Self-expandable nitinol stent for the management of biliary obstruction: long-term clinical results.
OBJECTIVE
Technical characteristics and clinical efficacy of a new metallic stent for the management of biliary obstruction were investigated in a clinical study.


METHODS
From February 1991 to January 1993, 35 self-expandable, nickel-titanium alloy wire-mesh stents (diameter, 10 mm; length, 6 cm) were placed in 19 patients with obstructive jaundice due to cholangiocarcinoma (n = 6), pancreatic carcinoma (n = 5), lymph node metastasis to the liver hilum (n = 5), gallbladder carcinoma (n = 2), and intraductal papillary mucosal hyperplasia (n = 1).


RESULTS
Stent placement was successful in 18 of 19 patients. In one patient, stent dislodgement occurred after correct release; no other procedure-related complications or deaths occurred within 30 days following the procedure. Two (11%) of the remaining 18 patients are alive at 11 months; 16 (89%) died after a mean survival of 7.4 months. Two of three patients with stent obstruction underwent repeated intervention. Adequate palliation from jaundice was achieved without further intervention in 83% of cases. The mean stent patency was not less than 7 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of these metallic stents reestablished bile flow in the occluded biliary tree. Their efficacy and patency rate were also adequate.
Bezzi
M
M
Department of Radiology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
Orsi
F
F
Salvatori
F M
FM
Maccioni
F
F
Rossi
P
P
D000368:Aged; D000497:Alloys; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000150:complications; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors
D000497:Alloys; C013616:nitinol