Duodenal perforation may occur at the time of insertion of a biliary endoprosthesis or following endoscopic manipulation of such a stent. The possibility of perforation as a late sequela of stent migration, after percutaneous placement of an endoprosthesis, however, has not been emphasized. In the authors' experience with a 12-F soft-stent endoprosthesis, duodenal perforation occurred in four of 50 patients following initially satisfactory stent placement. One intraperitoneal perforation necessitated immediate surgical intervention. The three retroperitoneal perforations were treated conservatively.
Adult Aged