The first experience with the fully-covered self-expandable nitinol stents in the management of anastomotic biliary strictures after orthotopic liver transplantation

Abstract

Background: Biliary anastomosis strictures after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) develop in 5–12% of patients. This complication significantly impairs the patients’ quality of life and can lead to graft loss.Aim: To analyze the first experience in the use of coated self-expanding nitinol stents in patients with biliary anastomosis strictures after OLT.Materials and methods: From December 2018 to January 2019, there were 5 patients with anastomotic strictures after OLT in the Department of Organ and/or Tissue Transplantation of the S.P. Botkin Municipal Clinical Hospital. All patients underwent endoscopic stenting of strictures with a self-expanding nitinol-coated stent. In all patients, the stent was removed at 3 months after its placement.Results: No complications and deaths were recorded in this patient group. The median duration of the follow-up after stent removal was 14.15 ± 2.35 (3–17) months, with no cases of restenosis identified.Conclusion: The use of coated nitinol stents in the management of patients with anastomotic strictures after liver transplantation is effective and safe. The possibility of their use in routine clinical practice requires confirmation in further studies.