Biliary Stent Placement by Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: Quality Indicators and Technical...

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has become a pivotal therapeutic option for the management of various biliary disorders. ERCP is an intrinsically complex procedure associated with risks of adverse events, including pancreatitis, bleeding, and perforation; thus, experienced endoscopists must maintain adequate procedural competence. Therefore, endoscopic societies have established quality indicators to ensure procedural safety and clinical outcomes. Furthermore, achieving optimal technical outcomes in biliary stent placement requires a thorough understanding of the appropriate selection and the characteristics of different biliary stents for each clinical situation. Although the most common indication for ERCP is common bile duct stone removal in the setting of acute cholangitis, benign and malignant biliary strictures remain a major focus of clinical research. In this context, this review summarizes the current quality benchmarks proposed by major endoscopic societies and provides an overview of mechanical properties of plastic stents and self-expandable metal stents and their technical considerations in pancreatobiliary disorders that are frequently encountered in clinical practice.