Aim: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the percutaneous use of the new nitinol SMARTeR stents in patients with biliary obstruction.
Materials and methods: Four stents were placed in three patients percutaneously under ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance.
Results: The deployment of the stents was successful in all three patients. All stents maintained their patency and position after short-term follow-up.
Conclusion: The nitinol SMARTeR stent is useful in the management of patients with biliary obstruction although accurate placement across the ampulla was found to be technically more difficult than with the Wallstent. Larger, long-term follow-up studies are required to evaluate the long-term patency of these new devices.