title: Comparison of axial force and cell width of self-expandable metallic stents: which type of stent is better suited for hilar biliary strictures?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Various types of self-expandable metallic stents (SEMSs) are commercially available. However, few reports have compared the performance of the various SEMSs. In addition to long-term patency, maneuverability during initial placement and feasibility of re-intervention for the stent occlusion are also very important.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective analysis, we compared the duration of stent patency and frequency of re-interventions in 96 patients diagnosed with unresectable hilar biliary strictures in whom initial 10-mm SEMSs were inserted between June 1999 and November 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on Kaplan-Meier curves, significantly shorter patency duration was noted for SEMSs with moderate axial force (AF) than for other groups of SEMSs with low AF. Endoscopic re-interventions for SEMS occlusion were easier in a group of SEMSs with low AF and large cell width than in other groups of SEMSs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With respect to patency duration and the frequency of re-intervention required, we consider that SEMSs with low AF and large cell width are favorable for hilar biliary strictures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Gifu Municipal Hospital, 7-1 Kashima-cho, Gifu 500-8513, Japan. tsuyomukai@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mukai
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Isayama
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.forename: Shinpei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doi
authors.forename: Takuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwashita
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: Hisataka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moriwaki
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000379:methods; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015607:Stents