Evaluation of fully covered self-expanding metal stents in benign biliary strictures and bile leaks.

Aim: To investigate the use of fully covered metal stents in benign biliary strictures (BBS) and bile leaks.

Methods: We studied 17 patients, at Harbor-UCLA Medical center (Los Angeles), with BBS (n = 12) and bile leaks (n = 5) from July 2007 to February 2012 that had received placement of fully covered self-expanding metal stents (FCSEMs). Fourteen patients had endoscopic placement of VIABIL(®) (Conmed, Utica, New York, United States) stents and three had Wallflex(®) (Boston Scientific, Mass) stents.