Percutaneous endobiliary RFA combined with balloon-sweep for re-opening occluded metallic biliary stents

The aim of this report is to discuss the results of percutaneous endobiliary radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with balloon-sweep technique in restoring the patency of occluded self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) secondary to tumor infiltration. A total of eight patients underwent endobiliary RFA for reopening of occluded SEMS at our institute. After endobiliary RFA, all patients showed restoration of stent patency. After a median follow-up of 6.5 months, four patients had succumbed to the underlying disease at 3, 4, 6, and 7 months. Two of these required reinterventions at 2 and 5 months. One patient died of sepsis and aspiration pneumonia at 3 months. Of the remaining three patients, two required re-intervention after 2 months, while the other remained asymptomatic. The mean duration of stent patency after the first session of RFA was 4 ± 2.1 months, which was comparable to the primary patency of these stents (4.2 months). Our experience suggests that endobiliary RFA with balloon sweep is a safe and useful technique for re-establishing the patency of occluded SEMS.