Fully Covered Self-expandable Metal Stents for the Treatment of both Malignant as well as Benign Biliary Strictures

Background: Transpapillary stents are used to treat biliary strictures, whether benign or malignant. However, there are different stent types and data are controversial. Recently, completely covered self-expandable metal stents (CSEMS) have become available. The aim of this study is to present a series of CSEMS placed for different indications and to evaluate the effectiveness, complications and extractability of these devices. Patients and Methods: We therefore, retrospectively reviewed the courses of patients who received CSEMS due to malignant as well as benign biliary strictures and post-sphincterotomy bleed…