Percutaneous introduction of a snare for removal of migrated biliary stents.

This report describes two cases in which proximally migrated Amsterdam-type biliary stents were extracted using transhepatic snare introduction into the bile ducts. In one case, the migrated stent was removed transhepatically via a percutaneous approach, and in the other a combination transhepatic-endoscopic extraction was successful. No complications were encountered. Percutaneous introduction of snare via transhepatic route offers a good alternative to surgery for removal of migrated biliary stents.