A prospective randomized study comparing partially covered metal stent versus plastic multistent in the endoscopic management of patients with postoperative benign bile duct strictures: a follow-up above 5 years.

Background: Self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) are often used for biliary drainage due to obstruction of neoplastic etiology, with better results than plastic stents, but seldom for biliary drainage of benign etiology.

Objective: Primary end point: Verify bile duct patency after placement of self-expandable metal and (multiple) plastic stents in patients with benign strictures resulting from bile duct surgery with follow-up above five years. Secondary end point: Evaluate long-term complication rate in patients with metal self-expandable and plastic stents.

Results: Self-expandable stents were placed in 15 patients and multiple plastic stents in 16. Mean age was 45 years with prevalence of female patients in both groups and no statistical difference between groups was observed (SEMS: 66.7%; plastic multistent: 62.5%; p=0.8). Complication rate resulting from stents occurred more often in the metal stent group (40% versus 25%; p=0.37). In the metal stent group, most frequent complications were hemorrhage (n=3; 20%), stent migration (n=2; 13.3%) and perforation (n=1; 6.7%). In plastic multistent group, most frequent complications were perforation (n:2; 12.5%), hemorrhage (n=1; 6.2%) and ulcer (n=1; 6.2%). Long-term patency rate after biliary drainage was higher in the self-expandable metal stent group, SEMS: 81.67% ± 2.56; CI: 76.47-86.54; plastic multistent: 71.88% ± 2.93; CI: 66.08-77.27.

Conclusion: The temporary passage of partially covered self-expandable metal stents is a feasible option for patients with benign bile duct strictures.