Long-term stenting for choledocholithiasis

Endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy and stone removal has become the standard of care for choledocholithiasis. Surgical intervention has been undertaken when stones cannot be removed endoscopically. In such patients who are high risk surgical candidates, an alternative therapy is the endoscopic placement of long-term plastic stents to allow biliary decompression. Though such stents usually occlude by three months, they may act as a wick to allow drainage of bile into the duodenum. This case report describes a patient with choledocholithiasis who was treated for 19 months with a biliary stent before expiring from unrelated causes.