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A case of a 51-year-old man, who presented with cholestatic jaundice due to common bile duct compression produced by primary retroperitoneal fibrosis, is reported. The patient was operated on two years earlier because of hydronephrosis, when the disease was diagnosed. Cholangiopancreatography revealed a "double duct sign", disclosing another benign cause for this radiographic sign, that once was considered to be pathognomonic of pancreas cancer. The bile duct stricture was managed by the insertion of an endoscopic endoprosthesis. This is the first report of jaundice due to Ormond's disease and the third, due to retroperitoneal fibrosis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical efficacy of metal stents in the palliation of malignant obstructive jaundice., Material and Methods: Fifty patients with malignant biliary obstruction were palliated by means of drainage with a metallic self-expandable stent (Wallstent). Nineteen patients had pancreatic carcinoma, 22 cholangiocarcinoma, 4 hepatocellular carcinoma, and the remaining 5 metastatic carcinoma from a variety of primary sites. The obstruction was at the level of the liver hilum in 19 cases, in the middle common bile duct in 11, and in the lower common bile duct in 20., Results: The patients were followed over a period of 1-17 months. A total of 36 patients (72%) died; 14 (28%) survived. The mean observation time for the whole group of 50 patients was 3.3 months. The 30-day mortality rate was 14% (7 patients). Short-term complications occurred in 6 patients (12%). Long-term complications included stent occlusion requiring a 2nd intervention in 2 patients (4%), and cholangitis in 2 patients (4%). Excellent palliation was achieved in most of the patients. No stent migration was observed., Conclusion: The metallic stent provides good palliative drainage, and the percutaneous insertion of metallic stents is well tolerated by the patients. The procedure is simple and safe to use and can be executed in one stage. The one-stage procedure, compared to the 2-stage procedure, may reduce hospital stays.

It has been more than 100 years since Rugero Oddi described the sphincter that bears his name. In that time, investigators have determined its precise anatomy and they have demonstrated its independence from the duodenal muscle wall. Modern manometric techniques have defined the motor activity of the sphincter and motility abnormalities in patients presenting with either recurrent biliary-type pain or idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis. The term Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction is used to describe motility disorders of the sphincter. Clinical studies have shown that in patients with manometrically determined stenosis, division of the sphincter is associated with cure of the symptoms in more than 70%. For patients with biliary-type pain, division of the bile duct sphincter is all that is required, whereas in patients with idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis, division of the septum between the bile duct and the pancreatic duct is mandatory.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate prospectively the value of manometry, non-invasive techniques and endoscopic sphincterotomy in biliary type II and III patients with suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction., Methods: All patients (n = 31) had undergone a cholecystectomy from 1 to 45 years before entry into the study, and had a history of biliary-type pain ranging from 4 to 156 months. In a primary diagnostic work-up, including ERCP, other causes of gastrointestinal disease were excluded. The width of the common bile duct, pain induced by the injection of contrast medium into the common bile duct, delayed contrast drainage and the results of a morphine-neostigmine test were analysed. Manometric measurements of basal sphincter of Oddi pressure were performed. Twenty-three patients with an elevated basal pressure (> 40 mmHg) underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy., Results: During the follow-up period (8-62 months) 83% of the patients became symptom free or experienced an improvement. Basal sphincter of Oddi pressure and long-term clinical outcome of patients correlated to different degrees with the results of non-invasive techniques., Conclusions: Our data suggest that endoscopic sphincterotomy may be an effective therapeutic modality in group II and III patients with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction in whom other gastrointestinal disorders have previously been excluded.

Objectives: To assess the incidence of elevated sphincter of Oddi baseline pressure and the response to endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients with suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction., Design: A 5-year prospective clinical trial., Methods: One-hundred and eight patients with recurrent biliary-type pain after cholecystectomy were enrolled. After thorough investigation, 35 patients with suspected type II sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) and another 29 type III patients remained for further investigation. Both groups were similar with respect to demographic data and severity of pain. Biliary manometry was performed in all except three patients in either group. Endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed in all patients with abnormal sphincter of Oddi baseline pressure (> 40 mmHg). All patients were clinically re-evaluated after 4-6 weeks, and thereafter the sphincterotomized patients were followed for a median period of 2.5 years., Results: An abnormal sphincter of Oddi baseline pressure was found in 62.5% of the type II patients and in 50% of the patients with suspected type III SOD (P = 0.66). At the 4-6 week follow-up none of those patients without abnormal manometry, but 70% of the patients with type II SOD, and 39% of the type III SOD patients, respectively, reported subjective benefit after sphincterotomy (P = 0.13 type II vs. type III). However, after a median follow-up of 2.5 years, sustained symptomatic improvement after sphincterotomy was found in 60% of the type II patients, but only in 8% of the patients with type III SOD (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: Disregarding a lack of difference in the incidence of abnormal sphincter of Oddi baseline pressure between type II and type III SOD, the Geenen-Hogan classification helps to predict the clinical outcome after endoscopic sphincterotomy.

We report an unusual cause of hemobilia in a patient with a transhepatic biliary catheter. Hemobilia was due to an extrahepatic fistula between the gastroduodenal artery and the common bile duct and was responsible for significant blood loss. The fistula was successfully treated with transarterial embolization that resulted in no further episodes of hemobilia during the following 12 months.

Objectives: Choledochoduodenal fistula (CDF) is occasionally found during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Cholelithiasis is suspected to be the leading cause in some endemic areas. We focus on this cause of CDF to determine which clinical characteristics are relevant to formation of fistulas and to learn whether CDF of various types would imply different clinical significance., Methods: In 1882 ERCP studies from 1988 to 1993, we found 27 CDF with cholelithiasis in 1066 patients. Their clinical backgrounds and ERCP findings were compared with those of 492 patients who had cholelithiasis but no CDF., Results: The prevalence of CDF was 2.53%. A longer past history of biliary stones, recurrent biliary tract infection (BTI), and the presence of common bile duct stones (CBS) were factors relevant to the formation of fistula. In the case of 24 distal fistulas, including seven of type I and 17 of type II, there was concurrent distal CBS. Three cardinal features of fistula of the distal type were: 1) the length of CDF was less than 1.5 cm, 2) its orifice was just around or on the papillary fold, and 3) all cases of distal type II had prominent pneumobilia, less jaundice, and larger CBS than type I. Aggressive endoscopic or surgical treatment of distal type CDF decreased the recurrence of BTI, as indicated by surveillance for 1 yr. Three fistulas of the proximal type were longer and drained into the duodenum far from the papilla. All of these cases deserved early surgical intervention., Conclusions: CDF really serves as a chronic sequel of cholelithiasis. Different clinical features of CDF of various types help one to establish diagnosis and treatment. To avoid recurrence of BTI, aggressive therapy to correct CDF is mandatory.

Since its original description, the sphincter of Oddi (SO) has been a source of controversy. Its very existence as a distinct anatomic or physiologic entity has been disputed. Hence, it is not surprising that the clinical syndrome of SO dysfunction and its therapy are controversial areas. The association of SO dysfunction with functional disorders and irritable bowel syndrome has raised skepticism about the efficacy of treatment directed solely at the SO. Nevertheless, SO dysfunction is widely diagnosed and treated by physicians. This article focuses on the various treatment options for SO dysfunction.

Background: Opinions regarding the appropriate clinical management of pancreatitis-related common bile duct (CBD) stricture vary considerably., Patients and Methods: Nineteen patients with chronic pancreatitis and proven stricture of their CBD were included in this study. Their mean duct diameter was 16 mm, bilirubin was 8.4 mg/dL, and alkaline phosphatase was 784 mIU/mL., Results: Five patients initially treated with endoscopic biliary stent placement are doing well at a mean follow-up of 7 months with only 1 patient requiring a biliary-enteric bypass. Four patients underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy and the other 10 patients underwent a biliary-enteric bypass. Mean bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase at 13 months after therapy were 0.9 mg/dL and 144 mIU/mL., Conclusion: An endoscopically placed biliary stent will relieve obstruction due to the stricture for several months and allow the inflammatory process to follow its natural course. In patients with long-standing permanent biliary stricture, pancreatitis limited to the head of the pancreas, duodenal obstruction, or suspected pancreatic head carcinoma, pancreaticoduodenectomy is the operation of choice. Biliary-enteric bypass in association with gastric or pancreatic bypasses should be reserved for patients with severe inflammatory changes preventing a safe pancreaticoduodenectomy.

In this study, a case of primary common bile duct stone due to papillary stenosis is reported. The patient was a 68-year-old man with complaints of epigastric pain and fever who had undergone gastrectomy at age 55 and cholecystectomy with choledocholithotomy at age 62. Laboratory data revealed elevation of the transaminases acid biliary enzymes. Both abdominal ultrasonography and CT scan revealed dilatation of the common bile duct with stones. Since endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography could not visualize the bile duct, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was carried out. After lithotripsy by percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy a diagnosis of papillary stenosis was made following percutaneous transhepatic manometry of the sphincter of Oddi, and balloon dilatation through the PTBD fistula was successfully performed. In this case report, emphasis is placed on the diagnosis and treatment of papillary stenosis.

Objective: Clogging of plastic biliary stents used in malignant biliary obstruction remains a major problem. In vitro studies have shown that side holes, a standard feature of commercially available stents, may contribute to stent clogging. In a pilot study, we designed and prospectively evaluated a new biliary stent without side holes (Tannenbaum stent)., Methods: Over a 12-month period, 55 consecutive patients (mean age 75 yr) with malignant distal common bile duct obstruction and without papillary or duodenal tumor infiltration underwent endoscopic placement of the Tannenbaum stent for the palliative treatment of jaundice., Results: Tannenbaum stent insertion was technically successful on the first attempt in all patients and was accompanied by a significant reduction in mean serum bilirubin levels (10.1-1.6 mg%). Fifty-one patients were followed until death (median survival of 130 days); the symptomatic occlusion rate was 16%, the dislocation rate was 8%, and the median stent patency was 64 wk. Aside from stent clogging, there were no complications., Conclusion: The Tannenbaum stent provided effective palliative biliary decompression in all patients. The patency rate was longer than that reported in the literature for conventional plastic stents with side holes and compared favorably with patency rates that have been reported for the metallic expandable biliary stents. The results of this pilot study are encouraging and warrant further studies.

From September 1987 to April 1994, 144 biliary endoprostheses were introduced (81 male; 63 female; mean age 68.7 years) in patients presenting distal stricture of the common bile duct by pancreatic tumors. 135 plastic (10 and 12 French) and 9 metallic (30 French) prostheses were placed. The most common complication associated with plastic prostheses is clogging (16%); this problem was solved with the use of metallic prosthesis, which is limited by their high cost. The mortality and morbidity are lower and the time hospital discharge is shorter until, than the ones associated with bilio-digestive anastomosis; mean survival is similar with two procedures endoscopy/surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate retrospectively the role and the effectiveness of self-expandable Wallstents and balloon-expandable Strecker stents in patients with inoperable malignant obstruction of the biliary tree., Methods: Fifty patients with malignant biliary obstruction were treated from August 1991 to August 1992 by percutaneous placement of 55 metallic endoprostheses (39 Wallstents, 16 Strecker stents). All patients were followed by clinical evaluation, laboratory data, and ultrasonographic examination until death., Results: Wallstent placement was successful in 36 patients without procedure-related complications. One partial occlusion after 1 year was resolved by percutaneous balloon dilatation. Fourteen patients were treated with 16 Strecker stents. Stenting was unsuccessful in four cases; four occlusions (after 6 h, 48 h, 2 and 6 months) were encountered., Conclusion: Wallstent endoprostheses have good results and long-term patency. There were some problems with Strecker stents during the placement and there was a higher occlusion rate.

Purpose: Extrahepatic biliary obstruction can be managed endoscopically or percutaneously. When endoscopic therapy fails, percutaneous drainage with or without endoscopic assistance may be performed. However, transhepatic drainage may itself be unsuccessful. In such patients, a transcholecystic approach combined with endoscopic therapy was used to achieve biliary drainage., Materials and Methods: After attempts at transhepatic biliary drainage failed, a percutaneous cholecystostomy was performed in four patients, with subsequent cannulation of the common bile duct, endoprosthesis insertion, or papillotomy., Results: The success rate was 100%, with no major complication or procedure-related mortality. Slight bleeding from a sphincterotomy was the only minor complication., Conclusion: When percutaneous transhepatic access to the bile duct fails, the transcholecystic route can be safely used with care to successfully achieve biliary drainage.

Patients with malignant biliary stenosis due to pancreatic head cancer often have the associated problem of duodenal obstruction. We report here the case of a 78-year-old woman with this clinical situation, who was treated with self-expanding Gianturco metal stents placed in the distal common bile duct and, nine months later, placed in the descending duodenum. The patient's frequent vomiting resolved, and she was able to tolerate peroral solid food; jaundice also decreased (bilirubin pre-stenting: 7.8; post-stenting: 1.2). Self-expanding metal stents therefore appear to be effective for the palliative treatment of malignant duodenal stenosis as well as biliary stenosis.

Botulinum toxin is a potent inhibitor of the release of acetylcholine from nerve endings. It has previously been shown that it can effectively reduce lower oesophageal sphincter pressures both in animals and humans with achalasia. This study examined the hypothesis that locally injected botulinum toxin could also reduce sphincter of Oddi pressure in patients with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. Two patients with postcholecystectomy pain syndrome were diagnosed with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (by biliary manometry in one patient and by hepatobiliary scanning criteria in the other). Botulinum toxin was injected into the sphincter of Oddi, by a sclerotherapy needle passed through a duodenoscope. In the first patient, intrasphincteric injection of botulinum toxin reduced sphincter pressure by about 50%, an effect that was sustained for at least four months. In the second patient, intrasphincteric injection caused about a 50% improvement in bile flow, with normalisation of scintigraphy. Neither patient showed any sustained improvement in pain despite these objective findings. Both patients eventually had endoscopic sphincterotomy, which also did not result in symptomatic improvement in either patient. No side effects were seen. Intrasphincteric botulinum toxin is a simple and effective means of lowering sphincter of Oddi pressure. This technique has potential for being useful clinically.

During a four-year period up to May 1993, 118 patients (mean age 69 years) with malignant bile duct stenoses were treated with a total of 127 selfexpanding 10-mm metal endoprostheses (Wallstent), most of them endoscopically (n = 102). Technical problems during and shortly after implantation occurred in five cases (4.2%), but could all be solved endoscopically. Serum bilirubin decreased from a mean of 8.0 mg/dl at presentation to a mean of 2.0 mg/dl after stenting. Nineteen patients died within the first three months (5% within the first 30 days); recurrent obstruction, as manifested by recurrent jaundice or cholangitis, or both, was encountered in 14%. Fifty-one patients who survived longer were followed up until death or for a minimum of 12 months (mean follow-up: 12 months). Stent patency rates in this group were 86% (six months), 72% (12 months) and 64% (18 months), survival for these time periods being 63%, 35% and 17%, respectively. No significant stent-related complications were noted; stent occlusion occurred in 12% of patients after a mean of 168 days, and was successfully managed endoscopically (thermal cleaning, implantation of further stents) in all cases. We conclude from our long-term follow-up data that patients surviving longer than three months are the ones most likely to benefit from Wallstent insertion for malignant jaundice.

Stenosis of the ampulla of Vater is encountered in as many as 10% of patients with biliary diseases. In general it is classified as tumourous, inflammatory of functional stenosis. In the clinical picture biliary dyspepsia associated with cholestasis predominates. The cause of functional stenosis of the ampulla of Vater is not known. In the development of inflammatory stenosis most frequently iatrogenic damage of the ampulla during revision of the biliary pathways participates or repeated passage of concrements in cholecystolithiasis. Treatment of tumours of the ampulla of Vater is surgical, treatment of inflammatory stenosis is endoscopic by endoscopic papillotomy. In the treatment of functional stenosis a useful drug is hymecromon, as a rule combined with metoclopramide.

Sludge, which occludes biliary stents, forms mainly around the side-holes of such stents. It has been reported that omitting the side-holes results in less sludge formation and theoretically improves drainage. To compare the clinical efficacy of biliary stents with and without side-holes, we randomized patients with malignant or benign strictures to receive 10FG polyethylene stents either with side-holes (SH) or without side-holes (NSH). The patients were seen at 4, 12, 20, and 28 weeks after stenting for symptom evaluation and serum liver enzyme and bilirubin assays. The stents were replaced only when clinical symptoms of cholangitis developed. Each group included 35 patients. The mean age of patients in the SH group was 68 years, and the ratio of men to women was 1:1.3. In the NSH group, the mean age of patients was 67 years, and the ratio of men to women was 1:1.4. Eight patients with SH stents and eight with NSH stents died before the stents were removed; two NSH stents migrated into the duodenum. During a mean follow-up period of 8.1 weeks (range, 1.1 to 28 weeks for the SH group and 0.6 to 28 weeks for the NSH group), 18 stents were found to be occluded in the SH group and 17 in the NSH group. The median time before total occlusion was 7.8 weeks (range, 2.6 to 28) for SH stents and 7.9 weeks (range, 0.6 to 28) for NSH stents (p > 0.1, NS). The occluded stents removed from these patients were freeze-dried and weighed to quantitate the sludge blocking the stent lumen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Purpose: The authors analyzed the follow-up data of 58 patients with malignant obstructive jaundice who underwent percutaneous palliative treatment with Wallstents over a 4-year period., Patients and Methods: Thirty-nine patients had obstruction at the hilar level, and 19 patients had common bile duct obstruction without hilar involvement. Stent patency and survival were calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method., Results: Early complications occurred in 14 patients (24%) and were managed conservatively. There were two procedure-related deaths (3.4%) due to sepsis and pancreatitis, and the overall 30-day mortality was 14%. Forty-eight patients have died, nine patients are surviving (average, 11 months), and one patient was lost to follow-up. Forty-four patients (77%) experienced relief of their initial symptoms, with bilirubin levels returning to normal in 63%. The 12-month patency rate of the endoprostheses was 46% in patients with hilar obstruction and 89% in patients with non-hilar obstruction (P = .029). Late biliary complications were documented in 20 patients (35%). Thirteen patients with hilar obstruction and two patients with common duct obstruction required at least one reintervention; stent patency was restored in all patients but one. The overall 6-month survival rate was 50%, and the 12-month survival rate, 36%; no significant difference was found between patients with hilar and non-hilar obstruction., Conclusion: The long-term patency of the Wallstent endoprosthesis was excellent if common duct obstruction was treated but was significantly lower in the presence of hilar involvement. Use of the Wallstent did not result in a lower complication rate compared with the reported results of plastic endoprostheses. Reinterventions to restore stent patency were successful in almost all cases. The survival of patients with hilar and with non-hilar obstruction was similar.

Purpose: Coated and noncoated Wallstents were implanted in dogs with experimental benign common bile duct stenoses to monitor the long-term patency of self-expanding stents in the biliary system., Materials and Methods: Experimental common bile duct stenoses were induced with a thermal laser in 12 dogs. Three silicone-coated and 14 noncoated stents were implanted. The animals were followed up from 3 to 25 months by means of cholangiography, cholangioscopy, measurements of liver enzyme levels, autopsy, and histology., Results: Silicone coated stents failed in all cases, resulting in two total occlusions and one stent dislodgment to the bowel. Noncoated stents led to marked mucosal hyperplasia and stent narrowing in most cases, but with follow-up of more than 12 months, hyperplasia underwent regression and--except in one case--neither an increase in liver enzyme levels nor stent occlusion occurred. Histologically, the extent of hyperplasia was related to the stent position within the duct wall. With stents in the mucosal layer, hyperplasia was excessive. Once the stent entered the submucosal layer, hyperplasia was decreased., Conclusion: In an experimental setting, mucosal hyperplasia did not compromise patency of noncoated stents in benign bile duct stenosis and regressed with late follow-up after 12 months.

Benign papillary stenosis is an uncommon but well recognised cause of recurrent biliary pain usually in post-cholecystectomy patients characterised by biliary dilatation without bile duct calculi or malignancy. Endoscopic or surgical papillotomy is the recommended treatment but may be associated with a higher complication rate than when performed for bile duct stones. We report 2 cases of papillary stenosis treated by endoscopic balloon dilatation or "sphincteroplasty", as a less traumatic intervention which improved biliary drainage and provided symptomatic relief. Our preliminary experience suggests more widespread evaluation of balloon sphincteroplasty should be considered for papillary stenosis.

This report describes 2 cases of calcified cavernous transformation of portal vein of unknown etiology. In both cases the revealing symptom was jaundice due to extrinsic compression of the common bile duct by the cavernoma. Only 4 other cases have been previously described in the literature. The cause of the jaundice was discovered only during surgery and confirmed by arteriography. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography allowed both the diagnosis and the palliative treatment of the stricture of the distal common bile duct. Surgical treatment could not be performed.

Endoscopic insertion of a biliary endoprosthesis is often the treatment of choice in patients with malignant common bile duct obstruction. In experienced centers the procedure is combined with low risk and high success rates. A well known and unresolved problem is the tendency of the stents to clog within a few months, recessitating their replacement. The best survival of the stents is achieved by using the largest straight teflon stent without sideholes. Long-term treatment with antibiotics, antimicrobial impregnated stents, stents without side holes or intraductally placed stents might increase the survival of the stents. Great experience is necessary in order to ensure optimal endoscopic treatment of all the patients with malignant common bile duct obstruction and the treatment therefore should be performed in few large centers.

The data on frequency, location and pronouncement of pericholedochal lymphadenitis in complicated forms of chronic opisthorchiasis requiring surgical correction have been summarized. Pericholedochal lymphadenitis is caused by infection in the bile ducts which is the most frequently noted in cholestasis. The authors recommend to perform external drainage of the bile ducts with the aim of their sanation.

Expanding metal stents were used to treat symptomatic pancreatic duct obstruction in two patients with chronic pancreatitis. Both patients initially underwent percutaneous external pancreatic duct drainage and then had metal stents inserted for internal drainage. Both patients remained asymptomatic, and the stents were patent during short-term follow-up periods of 6 and 9 months, respectively. Percutaneous insertion of metal stents, which can be performed to treat pancreatic duct obstruction after a trial of external drainage has been shown to relieve the patient's symptoms, should be considered as an alternative to endoscopic stent placement or surgical drainage.

Eighteen patients with recurrent benign biliary strictures (BBS) were selected for metallic stents placement because they failed to respond to percutaneous balloon dilatation. None were candidates for surgical corrections. We used "Z" single or double stents in 17 cases and a Wallstent in 1 case. After more than 3 years of follow-up (average period 37 months, range 30-41 months), 10 patients (55.5%) were asymptomatic without signs of bile stasis; 5 patients (27.7%) had recurrence of symptoms and were eventually retreated; and 3 patients (16.6%) died, 2 of obstructive jaundice and liver failure and 1 of metastatic gastric cancer. Recurrence was due to stent occlusion by tissue ingrowth in 3 cases, stent migration in 1 case, and an inflammatory lesion of the papilla of Vater in another case, with patency of the metallic stent. The overall patency rate, at 3-year follow-up was 68.7%. In our series, the main factor determining long-term patency of metallic stents has been reactive tissue ingrowth. Nevertheless, long-term results obtained with metallic stents in recurrent benign biliary strictures should be considered satisfactory. In selected patients, metallic stents may represent the only long-term treatment available for maintaining bile flow.

Placement of a balloon-expandable metallic stent (Strecker-Stent) for biliary drainage has been attempted in 30 patients. The stent was successfully implanted in 22 patients; in the remaining 8 patients, dilatation of the biliary stricture prior to stent placement was inadequate and delivery of the Strecker-Stent was, therefore, not possible. Insufficient balloon dilatation was related to the rigid nature of the stricture and to pain experienced during dilatation. During 2-9 months follow-up, 3 of 21 patients (14%) presented with reocclusion of the stented bile ducts. In all other patients, biliary drainage remains adequate. No major complications related to stent placement were observed.

Endoprostheses are commonly used in the treatment of biliary and pancreatic disorders. The frequency of and potential risk factors for stent migration, however, remain largely unknown. From January 1986 to June 1990, 807 biliary and pancreatic stents were placed at our institution. Our study analyzed the occurrence of stent migration among the 589 stents for which follow-up data were available. Results demonstrated incidence rates of 4.9 and 5.9% for proximal (into the duct) and distal (out of the duct) biliary stent migration, respectively. Likewise, incidence rates of 5.2 and 7.5% were observed for proximal and distal pancreatic stent migration, respectively. Malignant strictures, larger diameter stents, and shorter stents were significantly associated with proximal biliary stent migration. Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and longer stents were associated with proximal pancreatic stent migration. Migration of stents out of the common bile duct occurred more frequently in papillary stenosis. No other significant risk factors for distal migration were found. These results indicate that stent migration is an important complication. Multiple risk factors were associated with stent migration and need to be considered in the development of new stent types.

A patient was found to have fistulization of a pancreatic pseudocyst with the common bile duct. Resolution of the pseudocyst and the attendant biliary obstruction was achieved with percutaneous biliary drainage alone. The clinical and radiological features of this case are herein presented along with a brief review of the subject.

Decompression of biliary obstruction by an internal stent is well accepted in patients with malignant strictures. Less frequent is the use of this technique for the management of benign disorders. In the latter situation the biliary stent may be left in place for a very long period. We report a rare complication of a broken intracholedochal stent which had been inserted for a benign post-operative stricture.