Plastic stent migration in ERCP; a tertiary care experience

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Endoscopy
• Biliary Medicine

Background:

• Pancreato-biliary stenting is frequently performed for benign and malignant conditions.
• Stent migration is a known complication of pancreatobiliary stenting.
• Timely retrieval of migrated stents is crucial to prevent further complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for retrieving migrated stents.
• To analyze the spectrum of stent migration sites and retrieval techniques.
• To assess the success rates and complications associated with ERCP-based stent retrieval.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study analyzed data from January 2010 to January 2017 at Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi.
• Patients who underwent ERCP for migrated stent retrieval were included.
• Procedures were performed by expert endoscopists, and statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 17.

Main Results:

• Out of 5700 procedures, 1229 patients (21.56%) received pancreato-biliary stents.
• Stent migration occurred in 51 patients (4.14%), with right upper quadrant pain being the most common presentation.
• Technical success was 100%, with 88.2% achieving success on the first attempt. No complications or mortality were reported.

Conclusions:

• ERCP is a safe and highly effective method for retrieving migrated pancreatobiliary stents.
• The procedure demonstrated a high success rate and a favorable safety profile.
• ERCP should be considered a primary modality for managing migrated stent complications.