BILIARY STENT A FRIEND TURNED FOE IF FORGOTTEN

Abstract

Introduction: The studies recommend replacement or removal of stent at least by 3-6 months after ERCP in order to avoid complications such as occlusion or migration of stent or cholangitis. While it cannot be denied that complications may occur following routine stenting too, presence of a stent in the biliary tree left behind for a long duration is especially fraught with danger since, the stent though crucial in patient management, is undoubtedly a foreign body. Method and material: Plastic stenting through ERCP for CBD obstruction was performed in 288 patients. Patients were divided into 3 groups on basis of duration of presentation from their respective date of ERCP Result: 50 out of 288 patients did not provide contact information at time of registration for ERCP. 28 out of 50 patients who did not provide contact details at time of registration presented >6 months after ERCP. 260 patients presented for stent removal within 6 months of stenting of which 05 patients (1.9%) developed stentolith. 28 patients presented > 6 months after stent placement of which 26 (92.8%) developed stentolith. Conclusion: All patients with biliary stent must be informed about the importance of its removal on time and complications of long term endoprosthesis in situ. ‘Stent Registry System’ should be set up under direct supervision of the surgeon is recommended. Stentolith referred to surgeon are usually impacted or too large to be removed endoscopically mandating open choledocholithotomy.