Short ReportDifficult removal of fully covered Self Expandable Metal Stents (SEMS) for benign biliary strictures: The “SEMS in SEMS” technique

BackgroundRemoval of biliary Fully Covered Self Expandable Metal Stents can fail due to stent migration and/or hyperplastic ingrowth/overgrowth.MethodsA case series of 5 patients with benign biliary strictures (2 post-cholecystectomy, 2 following liver transplantation and 1 related to chronic pancreatitis) is reported. The biliary stricture was treated by temporary insertion of Fully Covered Self Expandable Metal Stents. Stent removal failed due to proximal stent migration and/or overgrowth. Metal stent removal was attempted a few weeks after the insertion of another Fully Covered Metal Stent into the first one.ResultsThe inner Fully Covered Self Expandable Metal Stent compressed the hyperplastic tissue, leading to the extraction of both the stents in all cases. Two complications were reported as a result of the attempt to stents removal (mild pancreatitis and self-limited haemobilia).ConclusionIn the present series, the “SEMS in SEMS” technique revealed to be effective when difficulties are encountered during Fully Covered Self Expandable Metal Stents removal.