Management of benign intrahepatic bile duct strictures: initial experience with polydioxanone biodegradable stents

Abstract

Benign biliary strictures are challenging to manage. They often affect young patients, and although they have a good long-term prognosis, they frequently recur and patients remain at risk of life-threatening cholangitis and liver cirrhosis. Older patients may not be fit for surgery or multiple procedures, but permanent stent insertion has a poor outcome.