Comparison of 10 French gauge stent with 11.5 French gauge stent in patients with biliary tract diseases.

We retrospectively compared the efficacy and complications of 10 F biliary stents with 11.5 F stents in the management of malignant and benign biliary tract diseases. Thirty-three patients treated with 10 F stents inserted on 46 occasions and 30 patients with 11.5 F stents inserted on 43 occasions were evaluated. The success of insertion, relief of jaundice, decline in total bilirubin, stent survival, and complications due to stents were compared. Patients with multiple stents, preoperative biliary drainage, stents smaller than 10 F, larger than 11.5 F, nasobiliary catheter drainage, and percutaneous biliary drainage were excluded. When comparing 10 F stents to 11.5 F stents, the success of insertion was 85% vs. 79% (p = 0.52), relief of jaundice was 88% vs. 90% (p = 0.79), and the decline in total bilirubin was 7.4 mg/100 ml vs. 8.3 mg/100 ml (p = 0.67). The complications, including stent clogging, cholangitis, stent migration, and pancreatitis occurred on seven occasions in patients with 10 F stents and on six occasions in patients with 11.5 F stents. This difference was statistically not significant (p = 0.87). We conclude that 10 F stents have the same success rate and complication rate as 11.5 F stents in the management of biliary tract diseases, and offer no significant advantage.