Percutaneous use of ePTFE/FEP-covered metallic stent for palliation of malignant biliary obstruction

Abstract

Introduction: Placement of self-expanding metallic stents has been a standard palliative treatment for patients with inoperable biliary malignancy, aiming at improving quality of life via a minimally invasive procedure. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous placement of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene/fluorinated ethylene propylene-covered metallic stents for palliation of inoperable biliary malignancy. Material and methods: Between February 2012 and April 2013, 11 patients with inoperable malignant biliary obstruction were treated with stent implantation. Serum bilirubin and liver enzyme levels were measured before/immediately after stent placement and at one, three, and six months. Patient survival and stent patency were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results: No migration occurred. Patients showed clinical improvement immediately and one month after stent placement, with a significant reduction in mean serum bilirubin level (p < 0.05). At six months, bilirubin levels were <1.5 mg/dL in all cases. One patient developed acute liver failure four days after stent implantation, leading to death. Survival rates were 90% at three months and 70% at six months. Primary patency rates were 100%, 100%, and 90% at one, three, and six months, respectively. Conclusion: Percutaneous placement of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene/fluorinated ethylene propylene-covered metallic stents offered an effective palliative therapy for patients with inoperable biliary malignancy.

Key words::

• Interventional radiology
• material science
• minimally invasive procedures
• self-expanding stent
• technology for surgical and interventional radiology

Declaration of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare concerning the publication of this article. The authors received no funding for the research reported in this paper.