The usefulness of percutaneous bile duct metal stent insertion for malignant biliary obstruction: a retrospective study

Background Percutaneous transhepatic bile duct stent insertion is a useful alternative to the endoscopic approach for malignant biliary strictures. This study retrospectively reviewed the cases of percutaneous metallic stent insertion at our institution to evaluate its safety and usefulness. Methods The study included cases of percutaneous bile duct stent insertion performed between April 2016 and August 2024. The causes of biliary strictures and complications were examined. Results The study included 14 cases. Seven patients had pancreatic head cancer, including biliary tract cancer (n = 4) and postoperative gastric cancer (n = 3). The study included three patients who underwent a one-phase insertion. The number of inserted stents tended to increase in patients with postoperative cholangiocarcinoma recurrence. No complication occurred in any patient. Conclusions Percutaneous metal stent insertion is a useful alternative for treating malignant bile duct stenosis that is difficult to approach endoscopically.