Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage with placement of a fully covered metal stent for malignant biliary obstruction.

Aim: To determine the utility of endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) with a fully covered self-expandable metal stent for managing malignant biliary stricture.

Methods: We collected data from 13 patients who presented with malignant biliary obstruction and underwent EUS-BD with a nitinol fully covered self-expandable metal stent when endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) fails. EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy (EUS-CD) and EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HG) was performed in 9 patients and 4 patients, respectively.

Results: The technical and functional success rate was 92.3% (12/13) and 91.7% (11/12), respectively. Using an intrahepatic approach (EUS-HG, n = 4), there was mild peritonitis (n = 1) and migration of the metal stent to the stomach (n = 1). With an extrahepatic approach (EUS-CD, n = 10), there was pneumoperitoneum (n = 2), migration (n = 2), and mild peritonitis (n = 1). All patients were managed conservatively with antibiotics. During follow-up (range, 1-12 mo), there was re-intervention (4/13 cases, 30.7%) necessitated by stent migration (n = 2) and stent occlusion (n = 2).

Conclusion: EUS-BD with a nitinol fully covered self-expandable metal stent may be a feasible and effective treatment option in patients with malignant biliary obstruction when ERCP fails.