BACKGROUND: Endoprostheses are commonly used in the treatment of biliary disorders. The frequency of and potential risk factors for stent migration, however, remain largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine how often biliary duct stents migrate proximally and to quantify the influence of specific risk factors on the occurrence of stent migration. PATIENTS METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed the occurrence of stent migration among the 410 stents for which follow-up data were available between January 1995 to December 1998. In 272 cases, we performed endoscopic sphincterotomy. Results demonstrated incidence rates of 4.4% for proximal biliary stent migration iatrogenic strictures were significantly associated with proximal biliary stent migration. CONCLUSIONS: Iatrogenic strictures were significantly associated with proximal common bile duct migration and the association between sphincterotomy and proximal migration failed to reach statistical significance.
BACKGROUND: Endoprostheses are commonly used in the treatment of biliary disorders. The frequency of and potential risk factors for stent migration, however, remain largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine how often biliary duct stents migrate proximally and to quantify the influence of specific risk factors on the occurrence of stent migration. PATIENTS METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed the occurrence of stent migration among the 410 stents for which follow-up data were available between January 1995 to December 1998. In 272 cases, we performed endoscopic sphincterotomy. Results demonstrated incidence rates of 4.4% for proximal biliary stent migration iatrogenic strictures were significantly associated with proximal biliary stent migration. CONCLUSIONS: Iatrogenic strictures were significantly associated with proximal common bile duct migration and the association between sphincterotomy and proximal migration failed to reach statistical significance.