Forgotten biliary stents: ignorance is not bliss

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Endoscopic procedures
• Biliary tract interventions

Background:

• Endoscopic biliary stenting is a common gastroenterology procedure.
• Plastic stents are typically used for short-term biliary drainage.
• Prolonged indwelling plastic stents can lead to severe complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze complications arising from forgotten biliary stents.
• To evaluate management strategies for retained biliary stents.
• To identify factors contributing to forgotten stent complications.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of patients with forgotten biliary stent complications.
• Data collected from January 2010 to October 2016.
• Management included endoscopic or surgical interventions.

Main Results:

• 21 cases of retained biliary stents were managed.
• Most common indication was stone disease (76.2%).
• Cholangitis was the most frequent presentation (66.67%); 76.2% required surgery.

Conclusions:

• Forgotten biliary stents causing complications are a significant issue.
• Lack of patient awareness or adherence to removal advice contributes to the problem.
• Effective patient counseling, information, and documentation are vital to prevent these complications.