Biliary spontaneous dislodgement spiral stent for patients who underwent mechanical lithotripsy

The incidence of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) cholangitis (PEC) in patients who underwent mechanical lithotripsy (ML) for large stone removal is high (up to 13.3%). One of the main causes is remaining small fragments or sludge that can impair normal biliary drainage. Endoscopic placement of a nasobiliary tube or a conventional plastic biliary stent has been commonly used under such conditions, but the patient may suffer from significant discomfort after the placement of a nasobiliary tube, while additional endoscopy is required for stent removal. We developed a biliary spontaneous dislodgement spiral stent (BSDSS) to overcome those shortcomings.

To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of inserting a BSDSS for patients who underwent ML for large stone removal.

We conducted a single-center, retrospective, cohort study at West China Hospital, Sichuan University. A total of 91 consecutive patients with large biliary stones (≥ 10 mm) in the common bile duct who underwent ML between November 2017 and July 2018 were included. The 49 eligible patients were divided into the BSDSS group and the nasobiliary tube group. Technical success, post-ERCP adverse events (including PEC, post-ERCP pancreatitis, stone recurrence, BSDSS retention, self-extraction and dislocation of the nasobiliary tube), drainage time, and postoperative stay were measured and compared.

Twenty-one patients in the BSDSS group and 28 patients in the nasobiliary tube group were included in the analyses. The baseline characteristics and clinical information were similar in the two groups. Insertions of BSDSS and nasobiliary tube were technically successful in all 49 patients. There was no significant difference in the incidence of overall post-ERCP adverse events between the two groups (4.8% in the BSDSS group vs 17.9% in the nasobiliary tube group, P = 0.219). The median duration of drainage time (3 d in the BSDSS group vs 4 d in the nasobiliary tube group) and length of postoperative stay (4 d in the BSDSS group vs 5 d in the nasobiliary tube group) also did not differ (P = 0.934, and P = 0.223, respectively).

Endoscopic placement of a BSDSS appears to be feasible, safe and effective for patients who underwent ML for large stone removal.