COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH STENTS IN BILIARY STRUCTURES

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of complications associated with biliary stents and to compare these complications between patients with stents in situ for less than two years and those with stents for two years or more.

Study Design and Duration of Study: Cross-sectional study. Department of Medicine, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore, over a period of six months after approval from the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP).

Method: Participants were selected using a non-probability sequential sampling method. The patients' ages ranged from 18 to 80 and they had a history of choledocholithiasis or biliary endoprosthesis implantation. Patients who had stents placed for less than two years or more than two years were split into two categories. We used a standardized proforma to gather information about the participants' demographics and any stent-related problems, including as jaundice, cholangitis, pancreatitis, internal migration, or CBD stones. We used SPSS version 20 to examine the data. The complication rates between the groups were compared using a chi-square test, with a p-value of ≤0.05 being deemed statistically significant.

Results: Out of 275 patients, 140 (50.9%) had stents in situ for less than two years, while 135 (49.1%) had stents for two years or more. The mean age was 55.4 ± 13.0 years, with male predominance (54.5%). Cholangitis was the most common complication (96.4%), followed by CBD stones (94.5%), jaundice (29.8%), internal migration (15.3%), and pancreatitis (5.1%). Comparison between groups showed no statistically significant difference in the frequency of jaundice (p = 0.561), cholangitis (p = 0.089), pancreatitis (p = 0.548), internal migration (p = 0.842), or CBD stones (p = 0.372).

Conclusion: Biliary stent-related complications are highly prevalent, particularly cholangitis and persistent CBD stones. However, no significant difference was observed between short-term and long-term stent placement. Regular monitoring and timely stent management are essential to minimize complications.