Background and Study Aims: Biliary strictures are a major cause of morbidity following liver transplantation with an overall incidence between 10 and 30 %. Up to now biliary strictures were dilated subsequently one to three plastic stents with a diameter of eight to ten F were inserted. In general, stents were exchanged in two to three months intervals over one year. In the present prospective controlled study, efficacy and complication rates of balloon dilation have been compared with dilation plus stenting. Patients and Methods: XY patients with high-grade biliary strictures (anastomotic and non-anastomotic) were enrolled in this prospective study in random order. X patients were treated by endoscopic balloon dilatation and Y by balloon dilatation plus plastic stent placement in six to eight weeks intervals. The primary end point was permanent opening of the biliary obstruction of 12 months. Number of endoscopic interventions and complications of the procedures were monitored.
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Permanent opening of the biliary obstruction.
Timeframe: 12 months