Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To explore the material features and biocompartibility of stent implantation in treating intrahepatic biliary stricture under ultrasonic guidance.
METHODS: The Chinese Journal Full-text Database and Medline were retrieved by the first author using search terms of “intrahepatic biliary stricture, stent, ultrasonic guidance, and biocompartibility” both in Chinese and English. Meta analysis, unrelated papers or repetitive studies were excluded. After that, 21 documents concerning the material features and biocompartibility of stent implantation in treating intrahepatic biliary stricture under ultrasonic guidance were analyzed.  
RESULTS: Compared with the previousl surgery, stent implantation exhibited advantages such as small trauma, better curative effect, able to improve life quality and prolong life. Ultrasonic guidance has shown its clinical values during stent implantation because of accurate location, few traumas, low complication and cheap cost. The metal stents were preferred in treating lower ureteral obstruction, which is superior to plastic stents in preventing bacteria, maintaining stent patency and reducing complications. However, due to easy change and cheap cost, the plastic stents are widely used in treating intrahepatic biliary stricture, especially for patients within 3-month survival times.
CONCLUSION: Materials of the stents play a key role in influencing the short- and long-term effectiveness in treating intrahepatic biliary stricture. Accordingly, the suitable stents should be selected prior to implantation according to the sites, degree, type of obstruction, physical state, expected survival time, economical ability, as well as the prognosis to reach the goals of relieving pain and prolonging life.