Clinical outcomes and complications of retained biliary stents during the COVID-19 pandemic: a case series

Biliary stents are widely used following endoscopic management of choledocholithiasis. Removal is recommended within 3-6 months to prevent complications. This study analyzed cases of retained biliary stents managed at our institution. Data on patient demographics, duration of stent retention, complications, and management outcomes were collected and analyzed. The mean age of the patients was 60 years (range: 50-82), and the mean stent retention duration was 29.5 months (range: 12-52 months). Acute cholangitis (83.3%) was the most frequent clinical presentation. Endoscopic stone removal was successful in two cases (33.3%), while the remaining four required open bile duct exploration due to technical challenges. Retained biliary stents are associated with severe complications such as recurrent choledocholithiasis and acute cholangitis, often necessitating invasive interventions. These findings underscore the critical importance of timely stent retrieval to minimize morbidity.