Comparison of axial force and cell width of self-expandable metallic stents: which type of stent is better suited for hilar biliary strictures?

• Published in: Journal of hepato-biliary-pancreatic sciences Vol. 18; no. 5; pp. 646 - 652
• Main Authors: Mukai, Tsuyoshi, Yasuda, Ichiro, Isayama, Hiroyuki, Nakashima, Masanori, Doi, Shinpei, Iwashita, Takuji, Iwata, Keisuke, Kato, Tomohiro, Tomita, Eiichi, Moriwaki, Hisataka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Springer Japan 01.09.2011; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Abdominal Surgery; axial force; Biomechanical Phenomena; cell width; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde - methods; Cholestasis - surgery; Gastroenterology; Hepatology; hilar biliary strictures; Humans; Machine tools; Materials Testing; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; partial stent‐in‐stent; Prosthesis Design; self‐expandable metallic stent (SEMS); Stents; Surgical Oncology; Topics; Cell width; Partial stent-in-stent; Hilar biliary strictures; Axial force; Self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS)
• ISSN: 1868-6974; 1868-6982
• DOI: 10.1007/s00534-011-0406-5

Background Various types of self-expandable metallic stents (SEMSs) are commercially available. However, few reports have compared the performance of the various SEMSs. In addition to long-term patency, maneuverability during initial placement and feasibility of re-intervention for the stent occlusion are also very important. Methods In this retrospective analysis, we compared the duration of stent patency and frequency of re-interventions in 96 patients diagnosed with unresectable hilar biliary strictures in whom initial 10-mm SEMSs were inserted between June 1999 and November 2008. Results Based on Kaplan–Meier curves, significantly shorter patency duration was noted for SEMSs with moderate axial force (AF) than for other groups of SEMSs with low AF. Endoscopic re-interventions for SEMS occlusion were easier in a group of SEMSs with low AF and large cell width than in other groups of SEMSs. Conclusions With respect to patency duration and the frequency of re-intervention required, we consider that SEMSs with low AF and large cell width are favorable for hilar biliary strictures.