Difficult removal of fully covered self expandable metal stents (SEMS) for benign biliary strictures: the "SEMS in SEMS" technique.

BACKGROUND: Removal of biliary Fully Covered Self Expandable Metal Stents can fail due to stent migration and/or hyperplastic ingrowth/overgrowth.

METHODS: A case series of 5 patients with benign biliary strictures (2 post-cholecystectomy, 2 following liver transplantation and 1 related to chronic pancreatitis) is reported. The biliary stricture was treated by temporary insertion of Fully Covered Self Expandable Metal Stents. Stent removal failed due to proximal stent migration and/or overgrowth. Metal stent removal was attempted a few weeks after the insertion of another Fully Covered Metal Stent into the first one.

RESULTS: The inner Fully Covered Self Expandable Metal Stent compressed the hyperplastic tissue, leading to the extraction of both the stents in all cases. Two complications were reported as a result of the attempt to stents removal (mild pancreatitis and self-limited haemobilia).

CONCLUSION: In the present series, the "SEMS in SEMS" technique revealed to be effective when difficulties are encountered during Fully Covered Self Expandable Metal Stents removal.