Case report of rare cause of small bowel obstruction: distal migration of metal biliary stent requiring enterotomy

Endoscopic biliary stent placement is a mainstay in the management of biliary strictures both malignant and benign. Distal stent migration is a known complication of metal biliary stents, however small bowel obstruction or perforation are rare. In this report from a tertiary referral centre, we detail a mid-small bowel obstruction caused by covered metal stent migration requiring a laparotomy and enterotomy for definitive management. A 69-year-old male was admitted to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital with obstructive jaundice on a background of previous metal biliary stent placement. On day 3 of his admission, he developed worsening abdominal pain. Cross-sectional imaging demonstrated distal migration of his stent to his mid-jejunum, causing a high-grade small bowel obstruction. He underwent laparotomy to retrieve the stent. He recovered well and underwent a percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram with stent replacement. In this case, distal biliary stent migration causes a small bowel obstruction. Whilst uncommon, risk factors including previous intra-abdominal operation can be used to identify patients unlikely to achieve successful expectant management of distal migration.