Biliary stenting for benign and malignant obstructive jaundice: safe use of extended stent-change intervals

This study compared 2 methods of palliative stent placement, 6-monthly interval stent changes (RS), or a single-stent policy with no planned stent change (SS).

A total of 460 patients were identified. There were no significant differences in the proportion of patients requiring unplanned stent changes in the RS or SS group (22.3% vs. 22.8%). Median survival was not significantly different between the RS and SS groups, for both benign disease (96 vs. 92 mo) and malignant disease (9 vs. 6 mo). Patients undergoing unplanned stent changes had the poorest survival and the highest stent change-related complication rate. Patients with a blocked stent episode were more likely to develop further problems with stent patency, within a median interval of 2.5 months.

In carefully selected patients, a single stent may be adequate with no planned change of stent. There appears to be a clearly defined subgroup of patients who have recurrent problems with stent patency; these should have their interval exchange brought forward on a 3-monthly basis, or a self-expanding metal stent should be used.