Biliary Stent Placement

What does a biliary stent do?

Biliary stents are tiny tubes that are designed to prop open an obstruction in the bile duct.

How is a biliary stent placed?

The procedure will be performed under conscious sedation, which allows the patient to either be asleep or somewhat awake.

During the procedure an endoscope will be inserted into the esophagus through the mouth. An endoscope is a flexible thin lighted tube designed to allow your doctor to see the obstructed area. In some cases, balloon dilation may be performed to allow for stent placement. The stent is placed over a thin wire (called a guidewire) and guided into position. Once in place, your doctor will open the stent at the obstructed area. The stent is designed to stay in place and maintain the opening for a period of time

Are there any risks to the procedure?

As with any medical procedure there are risks and you should talk to your doctor about what they are. Your doctor will be able to explain the risks and answer any questions you may have.

Potential complications that may be experienced with a biliary stent placement include, but are not limited to, stent misplacement, stent movement, bleeding, bile duct perforation, ulceration, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), pain, or infection.

Recovery Period

Recovery times may vary depending on the disease that is being treated. Because stents are often placed using conscious sedation, the procedure may be conducted on an outpatient basis. This means you may only need to spend a few hours in the hospital.

This reference text contains information about a specific procedure and is provided by Boston Scientific Corporation for reference only. Please talk to your doctor about complete procedural information, potential risks, and questions you may have.

References

1. American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Therapeutic ERCP. http://www.askasge.org/PatientInfoIndex.aspx?id=398&terms=ercp, 2004, Accessed 1/19/07.

Warning: The safety and effectiveness of this device for use in the vascular system has not been established.