Long-term results of self-expandable metal stents for benign biliary strictures

Background: Benign biliary strictures/BBS/are being increasingly treated with endoscopic techniques. Endoscopic treatment of benign bile duct strictures is technically challenging. Surgery has been the traditional treatment, but there is increasing desire for minimally invasive endoscopic therapy. At present, endoscopy has become the first line approach for the therapy of post-operative, and/or pancreatic benign biliary strictures. Patients and methods: Our department in the last 8 years we treated endoscopically 36 BBS patients/22 female (61%), 14 male (39%)/with self-expandable metal stents/SEMS/. The causes o…