Covered Self-Expandable Metallic Stents For Post Orthotopic Liver Transplant: Is 1-Year Of Indwelling Better Than 6 Months?

Biliary anastomotic strictures occur in 15-20% of patients following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Placement of fully covered self-expandable metallic stent (cSEMS) for benign biliary disorders has been reported. The reduced number of procedures and cost is very appealing, however, adequate stent indwelling is not clearly defined. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cSEMS during a 1-year treatment for biliary anastomotic stricture (BAS) after OLT.