The treatment of patients with symptomatic common bile duct stenosis secondary to chronic pancreatitis using partially covered metal stents : a pilot study

Background and study aims: Although surgery remains the gold standard for the treatment of symptomatic common bile duct stenosis associated with chronic pancreatitis, plastic and self-expandable open-mesh stents have been proposed as alternative treatments. These may dysfunction, however, mainly due to stent occlusion by clogging or by hyperplasia of inflammatory tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and long-term results of using partially covered metal stents in this setting. Patients and methods: A total of 14 patients (12 men, 2 women; mean age 50 ± 3 years) underwent partially covered metal stent insertion for common bile duct stenosis secondary to chronic pancreatitis (12 alcohol-related, two idiopathic). They had all been treated previously with plastic prostheses. Results: Either a 40-mm (n = 13) or a 60-mm (n = 1) partially covered metal stent was placed, depending on the length of the common bile duct stenosis and the level of the cystic duct bifurcation. Stent placement was successful, with resolution of cholangitis and improvement in cholestasis, in all patients. During the median follow-up period of 22 months (range 12-33 months) seven patients developed dysfunction of the stent and required re-treatment. At 12, 24, and 30 months, the stent patency rates were 100%, 40%, and 37.5% respectively. Conclusions: While partially covered metal stenting is safe and effective for the initial treatment of chronic pancreatitis-associated common bile duct stenosis and shows promising short-term results, long-term data show that dysfunction occurs in 50% of cases. In light of the continued interest in nonsurgical treatment of this condition, further research is warranted to investigate new stent designs with improved long-term patency.