Complications and management of forgotten long-term biliary stents

Table 1 Baseline patient characteristics n (%)

	Total (n = 38)
Age, mean, yr	73.7 ± 12.1
Sex, male/female	26(68.4)/12(31.6)
Indication of biliary stent
CBD stone	19 (50.0)
CBD stricture	14 (36.8)
CBD stone with CBD stricture	5 (13.2)
Types of stents
Diameter, Fr: 7/10/11.5	2(5.3)/21(55.3)/15(39.5)
Length, cm: 5/7/9	13(34.2)/22(57.9)/3(7.9)
Underlying diseases
Chronic pancreatitis	4 (10.5)
Liver cirrhosis	1 (2.6)
STG BII	4 (10.5)
Chronic renal failure	2 (5.3)
Cerebrovascular accident	5 (13.2)

CBD: Common bile duct; STB BII: Subtotal gastrectomy with Billroth II.

Table 2 Presenting symptoms and laboratory findings at admission

Variable	Total (n = 38)
Symptoms
Abdominal pain	36 (94.7)
Fever	20 (52.6)
Jaundice	13 (34.2)
Without symptom	2 (5.3)
Laboratory findings
WBC, cells/mcL	10270.20 ± 4835.67
ALT, IU/L	122.50 ± 238.72
GGT, IU/L	236 ± 209.18
Total bilirubin, mg/dL	2.57 ± 2.19
Amylase, U/L	213.74 ± 494.75

Values are presented as mean ± SD or n (%). WBC: White blood cell; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; GGT: Gamma-glutamyl transferase.

Table 3 Complications and outcomes according to biliary stent duration n (%)

Variable	Total	1-2 yr	Over 2 yr	P value
	(n = 38)	(n = 28)	(n = 10)
Age, yr	73.7 ± 12.1	75.6 ± 10.0	68.3 ± 16.1	0.104
Sex, male/female	26/14(68.4/31.6)	19/9(67.9/32.1)	7/3 (70/30)	1.000
Duration of stent-stay, mo	22.6 ± 12.2	16.4 ± 3.0	39.7 ± 11.7	0.001
Complications of stents
Jaundice	13 (34.2)	11 (39.3)	2 (20.0)	0.441
Cholangitis	36 (94.7)	26 (92.9)	10 (100.0)	1.000
Pancreatitis	2 (5.3)	1 (3.6)	1 (10.0)	0.462
Internal migration	5 (13.2)	3 (10.7)	2 (20.0)	0.592
Presence of CBD stone	35 (92.1)	25 (89.3)	10 (100.0)	0.552
Endoscopic treatment
Stone removal	28 (73.7)	21 (75.0)	7 (70.0)	1.000
Stent removal	35 (92.1)	26 (92.9)	9 (90.0)	1.000
Stent reinsertion	19 (50.0)	16 (57.1)	3 (15.8)	0.269
Additional stent insertion	3 (7.9)	2 (7.1)	1 (10.0)	1.000

OR: Odds ratio; CI: Confidence interval; CBD: Common bile duct.