Kaffes Stent in the Management of Post-surgical Biliary Strictures

The Safety and Efficacy of a Short Specially Designed Fully Covered Metallic Stent in the Management of Benign Post-surgical Biliary Strictures: a Randomized-controlled Study

Post-surgical biliary strictures are common especially after cholecystectomy. Standard treatment involves the performance of multiple procedures over a 1 year period at least using several plastic stents to achieve permanent dilatation of these strictures.

Metallic stents have the theoretical benefit of absence of need of multiple sessions.

These strictures however are frequently very close to the hilum and thus previously considered a contraindication for insertion of metallic stents for the fear of occlusion of the contralateral ducts. Metallic stent migration is also a frequent problem.

The use of a metallic stent that is short and completely intraductal, in theory, should reduce the risk of stent migration.

This is a randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy and safety of a short metallic intraductal stent to the conventional treatment which is multiple plastic stents. In cases with a stricture reaching or close to the hilum a technique is used to avoid obstruction of the contralateral ducts which is insertion of a 7 French plastic stent alongside the metallic stent.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Confirmed benign postsurgical biliary stricture by presence of all 3 of the following:

Ultrasound imaging or Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) showing biliary dilatation, Raised bilirubin and or alkaline phosphatase, History of biliary tree surgery within the previous year

• Naïve to endoscopic therapy
• Age > 18 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• Coagulopathy
• Inability of patient to adhere to regular follow-up
• Living-donor liver transplant patients