Abstract: Prolonged retention of biliary stents can lead to rare yet serious complications such as stent fragmentation and biliary obstruction. We report the case of an 18-year-old male with a five-year-old forgotten biliary stent placed during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for choledocholithiasis. Following cholecystectomy, the stent was removed in fragments, and the patient developed clinical signs of obstructive jaundice. Imaging revealed a retained stent fragment in the distal common bile duct, leading to biliary dilatation. The diagnosis was confirmed using a combination of radiography, ultrasonography, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Endoscopic retrieval was performed successfully. This case highlights the importance of timely stent removal, imaging surveillance, and multidisciplinary management to prevent stent-related complications.
Badhe et al. (Thu,) studied this question.