Removal of a migrated biliary stent using new digital cholangioscopy retrieval devices in a transplant patient

Abstract

A 51-year-old man who had undergone liver transplantation developed a symptomatic anastomotic biliary stricture 23 months after surgery. Endoscopic biliary therapy via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was planned. Progressive biliary balloon dilation of the stenosis was performed, with placement of three coaxial plastic stents (8.5-Fr × 12 cm, 8.5-Fr × 9 cm, and 10-Fr × 12 cm; Advanix, Boston Scientific, Natick, Massachusetts, USA). During an endoscopy to replace the stents, fluoroscopy revealed proximal migration of an 8.5-Fr plastic stent at the level of the cystic insertion ([Fig. 1]). Several failed extraction attempts were made using the standard ERCP techniques (i. e. extractor balloon, Lasso technique, and others) [1] [2]. Single-operator peroral intraductal cholangioscopy (SpyGlass DS direct visualization system, Boston Scientific) confirmed impaction of the distal end of the proximally migrated stent, located 3 cm proximally to the duodenal papilla. An attempt to mobilize the migrated stent was made using biopsy forceps (SpyBite, Boston Scientific), without success.