Clinical Trial Report: Endoscopic Treatment of Postoperative Bile Duct Strictures Using Multiple Stents: Long-Term Results

Abstract

Introduction: Post-laparoscopic cholecystectomy biliary strictures present a difficult management problem. Standard percutaneous radiologic and surgical treatments carry significant morbidity. Endoscopic dilation of postoperative biliary strictures with increasing numbers of stents was first described by Costamagna et al. in 2001 [1], with promising results after a long-term follow-up (mean 4 years). Prior to that, the standard endoscopic approach was serial dilation and stenting using single or double stents, with often disappointing results.