Self-expandable Metal Mesh Stents for Common Bile Duct Stenosis in Chronic Pancreatitis: Retrospective Evaluation of Long-term Follow-up and Clinical Outcome of a Pilot Study

Abstract

Self-expandable metal stents could be useful and adequate in patients who suffer from symptomatic obstructive jaundice due to chronic pancreatitis. However, they provide acceptable dilation of the common bile duct for only a limited period of time. Overall, endoscopic stenting with self-expandable metal stents seems to be an advantageous treatment only for a subgroup of patients who are unfavorable candidates for surgical drainage. To clarify the role of the endoscopic approach, prospective trials with homogeneous and larger patient numbers are necessarily in the future.