Covered self-expanding transhepatic biliary stents: clinical pilot study
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S A Thurnher1, J Lammer, M M Thurnher
1Department of Radiology, University Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
Purpose:
We report our preliminary results with a new type of self-expanding covered stent for treatment of malignant biliary obstruction.
Methods:
Wallstents, fully covered with high elasticity polyurethane, with an unconstrained diameter of 10 mm and a total length of 69 mm, were placed transhepatically under fluoroscopic guidance in five patients. The length of the biliary obstruction varied between 30-50 mm. At 1 and 3 months (82-98 days) clinical assessment, serum bilirubin measurement, and ultrasound examination of the biliary tree were performed.
Results:
Initial uncomplicated deployment of the stents and internal drainage was possible in all patients. Distal stent migration resulted in early biliary reobstruction in one patient. At 3-month follow-up, partial reobstruction, most probably due to sludge formation, was found in another patient.
Conclusion:
Our initial results indicate that the covered, self-expanding Wallstent endoprosthesis can be reliably and safely deployed transhepatically for malignant biliary obstruction.