Intraductal fully covered self-expanding metal stents in the management of post-liver transplant anastomotic strictures: a UK wide experience

Abstract

<jats:sec><jats:title>Background:</jats:title><jats:p> Fully covered intraductal self-expanding metal stents (IDSEMS) have been well described in the management of post-liver transplant (LT) anastomotic strictures (ASs). Their antimigration waists and intraductal nature make them suited for deployment across the biliary anastomosis. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Objectives:</jats:title><jats:p> We conducted a multicentre study to analyse their use and efficacy in the management of AS. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Design:</jats:title><jats:p> This was a retrospective, multicentre observational study across nine tertiary centres in the United Kingdom. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods:</jats:title><jats:p> Consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with IDSEMS insertion were analysed retrospectively. Recorded variables included patient demographics, procedural characteristics, response to therapy and follow-up data. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results:</jats:title><jats:p> In all, 162 patients (100 males, 62%) underwent 176 episodes of IDSEMS insertion for AS. Aetiology of liver disease in this cohort included hepatocellular carcinoma ( n = 35, 22%), followed by alcohol-related liver disease ( n = 29, 18%), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis ( n = 20, 12%), primary biliary cholangitis ( n = 15, 9%), acute liver failure ( n = 13, 8%), viral hepatitis ( n = 13, 8%) and autoimmune hepatitis ( n = 12, 7%). Early AS occurred in 25 (15%) cases, delayed in 32 (20%) cases and late in 95 (59%) cases. Age at transplant was 54 years (range, 12–74), and stent duration was 15 weeks (range, 3 days–78 weeks). In total, 131 (81%) had complete resolution of stricture at endoscopic re-evaluation. Stricture recurrence was observed in 13 (10%) cases, with a median of 19 weeks (range, 4–88 weeks) after stent removal. At removal, there were 21 (12%) adverse events, 5 (3%) episodes of cholangitis and 2 (1%) of pancreatitis. In 11 (6%) cases, the removal wires unravelled, and 3 (2%) stents migrated. All were removed endoscopically. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion:</jats:title><jats:p> IDSEMS appears to be safe and highly efficacious in the management of post-LT AS, with low rates of AS recurrence. </jats:p></jats:sec>