Biliary and pancreatic stents.

The use of biliary and pancreatic stents has increased significantly during the last 2 decades because of improvements in available endoscopes and endoscopic accessories, as well as better techniques. The number of endoscopists who can successfully complete these demanding procedures has also increased, as have the indications for stent therapy in biliary and pancreatic diseases. Stents are now made in various shapes and configurations from different types of polymers (plastics), various expandable metallic alloys, and bioabsorbable materials. Most of the available data relate to plastic and metallic stents for biliary tract disease; the data for pancreatic disease are fewer and involve a smaller number of patients. This article reviews the most recent available data concerning biliary and pancreatic stents and discusses possible future developments. It does not attempt to cover all data reported in biliopancreatic stent therapy.