Self-expanding stainless steel biliary stents.

Self-expanding stainless steel stents of a modified Gianturco design were used to relieve biliary obstruction in 31 patients. Fifteen patients had benign strictures, and 16 patients had malignant obstructions. The median age was 62 years. The stents were placed through a 10-F sheath, and in most cases multiple stents were used. Complex malignant obstructions involving multiple systems were successfully treated with stainless steel stents in order to reconstruct the biliary tree. Stents have been in place for more than 6 months in 20 of the 31 patients; occlusions have occurred in 10% of the 31 patients. Patients with benign postoperative strictures have done very well, with one patient free of symptoms at 14 months. The initial results are encouraging. Further studies will determine the role of stainless steel stents in the treatment patients with benign postoperative strictures and malignant obstructions with involvement of multiple systems.