Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Biliary Drainage: Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Hepaticogastrostomy in Malignant Biliary Obstruction
Published on: March 25, 2022
Efficacy and safety of the covered Wallstent in patients with distal malignant biliary obstruction
Yousuke Nakai1, Hiroyuki Isayama, Yutaka Komatsu
1Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Background:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of the covered Wallstent, a commercially available silicone-covered, self-expandable metallic stent (covered Wallstent), for the treatment of distal malignant biliary obstruction.
Methods:
Sixty-nine consecutive patients with unresectable distal malignant biliary obstruction who underwent covered Wallstent placement between October 2001 and October 2003 were studied at 4 affiliated hospitals.
Results:
Mean stent patency and mean survival were 139.1 days and 200.9 days, respectively. Stent occlusion occurred in 7 cases (10.1%), but tumor ingrowth was not observed. Seventeen complications, including 5 cholangitis (7.2%), 4 stent migration (5.8%), 4 cholecystitis (5.8%), and 4 pancreatitis (5.8%) were observed in 16 patients (23.2%). Stent misplacement was observed in 7 patients (10.1%).
Conclusions:
Covered Wallstent is effective in preventing tumor ingrowth for the treatment of distal malignant biliary obstruction. However, the overall complication rate may be higher than uncovered self-expanding metal stents and covered self-expanding metal stents of different design.