Stent migration necessitating surgical intervention.
BACKGROUND
Internal drainage with transhepatically or endoscopically placed endoprostheses has been used for many years as a temporary or definitive treatment for biliary tract obstruction. As a late complication, stent migration may occur.


METHODS
We reviewed our records to identify patients who were operated on for a migrated endoprosthesis that was causing complications. In all, five such patients were identified.


RESULTS
One patient had a large bowel perforation. Bowel penetration led to an interenteric fistula in one patient and to a biliocolic fistula formation in another. Small bowel distension was found in two patients. Surgical treatment consisted of local excision in three patients, segmental resection in one patient, and a bypass operation in the patient with biliocolic fistula. Postoperatively, four patients recovered without problems, but one patient died during a complicated postoperative course.


CONCLUSIONS
If a stent becomes stuck in the gastrointestinal tract and is not accessible for endoscopic removal, early operative revision is mandatory to prevent further complications.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D001658:Biliary Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000601:surgery; D003106:Colon; D012809:Colon, Sigmoid; D003113:Colonoscopy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007583:Jejunum; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D010192:Pancreatic Pseudocyst / Q000601:surgery; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*