Biodegradable Stents in Liver Transplant RecipIents for Treatment of Biliary Anastomotic Strictures

Biliary complications after liver transplantation (LT) remain common and are associated with higher morbidity in liver transplant recipients and liver graft failure. Anastomotic biliary strictures are the most common biliary strictures after LT. Today, the gold standard for treatment remains endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with either multiple plastic stenting (MPS) or fully covered metal stents. These methods have disadvantages such as the need for repeated ERCP procedures, high costs or the risk of migration. Biodegradable stents (BDS) are a novel type of stents made from various synthetic polymers or their copolymers, which are now being used in a variety of medical fields, including the pancreatobiliary tract.The use of biodegradable stents has shown good potential in the treatment of benign biliary strictures. However, overall data on their endoscopic use in liver transplant recipients, particularly in the treatment of anastomotic biliary strictures, are scarce. Most studies have either been in animal models, using percutaneously implanted stents, or in non-transplanted patients. There are no randomised controlled trials investigating their use in LT patients. Based on the available evidence, the use of BDS in the treatment of anastomotic biliary strictures in liver transplant recipients appears to be a promising technique that may be as effective as the standard treatment with MPS, but may reduce the number of ERCP procedures and eliminate the risk of migration. The aim of this randomised prospective study is to compare the difference in rates of anastomotic stricture resolution between the active (BDS) and control (MPS) groups to demonstrate non-inferiority of the biodegradable stents. Outcomes will be classified as complete resolution (no significant stricture at the anastomotic site on imaging and resolution of cholestasis), significant response (relative stricture and resolution of cholestasis) or failure (persistent stricture and/or persistent cholestasis). Secondary outcomes are technical feasibility, immediate and late complications.