Removable fully covered self-expandable metal stents in the treatment of common bile duct strictures due to chronic pancreatitis: a case series.

The aim of this study was to test the removability of fully covered self-expandable metal stents (FCSEMS) in patients with a benign common bile duct (CBD) stricture. A FCSEMS was inserted in six patients with a CBD stricture due to chronic pancreatitis who were considered to be unfit for surgery, and stent removal was attempted after predefined intervals of 4 and 6 months. FCSEMS were successfully placed in all patients (100 % placement success) and stent extraction was accomplished in four patients (66 % removal rate), all of whom achieved stricture resolution (66 % resolution rate). In one patient a recurrent stenosis developed after 6 months (recurrence rate 25 %). Proximal stent migration occurred in two patients. In conclusion, FCSEMS removal was possible in the majority of patients and results regarding stricture dilation were promising. Nevertheless, before FCSEMS can become an acceptable treatment option for benign CBD strictures, innovative stent design modifications are necessary and removability must be ascertained.