AIM: To determine the impact(morbidity/mortality) of biliary stent-related events(SRE)(cholangitis or stent obstruction) in chemotherapy-treated pancreaticobiliary patients.METHODS: All consecutive patients with advanced pancreatobiliary cancer and a biliary stent in-situ prior to starting palliative chemotherapy were identified retrospectively from local electronic case-note records(Jan 13 to Jan 15). The primary end-point was SRE rate and the time-to-SRE(defined as time from first stenting before chemotherapy to date of SRE). Progressionfree survival and overall survival were measured from the time of starting chemotherapy. Kaplan-Meier, Cox and Fine-Gray regression(univariate and multivariable) analyses were employed, as appropriate. For the analysis of time-to-SRE, death was considered as a competing event.RESULTS: Ninety-six out of 693 screened patients were eligible; 89% had a metal stent(the remainder were plastic). The median time of follow-up was 9.6 mo(range 2.2 to 26.4). Forty-one patients(43%)developed a SRE during follow-up [cholangitis(39%), stent obstruction(29%), both(32%)]. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the SRE group and no-SRE groups. Recorded SRE-consequences were: none(37%), chemotherapy delay(24%), discontinuation(17%) and death(22%). The median time-to-SRE was 4.4 mo(95%CI: 3.6-5.5). Patients with severe comorbidities(P < 0.001) and patients with ≥ 2 baseline stents/biliary procedures [HR = 2.3(95%CI: 1.2-4.44), P = 0.010] had a shorter time-to-SRE on multivariable analysis. Stage was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival(P = 0.029) in the multivariable analysis adjusted for primary tumour site, performance status and development of SRE(SRE group vs no-SRE group).CONCLUSION: SREs are common and impact on patient’s morbidity. Our results highlight the need for prospective studies exploring the role of prophylactic strategies to prevent/delay SREs. AIM: To determine the impact (morbidity / mortality) of biliary stent-related events (SRE) (cholangitis or stent obstruction) in chemotherapy-treated pancreaticobiliary patients. METHODS: All consecutive patients with advanced pancreatobiliary cancer and a biliary stent in-prior prior to starting palliative chemotherapy were identified retrospectively from local electronic case-note records (Jan 13 to Jan 15). The primary end-point was SRE rate and the time-to-SRE (defined as time from first stenting before chemotherapy to date of SRE Progression free survival and overall survival were measured from the time of starting chemotherapy. Kaplan-Meier, Cox and Fine-Gray regression (univariate and multivariable) analyzes were employed, as appropriate. For the analysis of time-to-SRE, death was Ninety-six out of 693 screened patients were eligible; 89% had a metal stent (the remainder were plastic). The median time of follow-up was 9.6 mo (range 2.2 to 26.4). For There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the SRE group and no (29%), both (32%)] -SRE groups. Recorded SRE-consequences were: none (37%), chemotherapy delay (24%), discontinuation (17%) and death (22%). The median time-to-SRE was 4.4 mo Patients with severe comorbidities (P <0.001) and patients with ≥ 2 baseline stents / biliary procedures [HR = 2.3 (95% CI: 1.2-4.44), P = 0.010] had a shorter time-to-SRE on multivariable analysis. Stage was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (P = 0.029) in the multivariable analysis adjusted for primary tumor site, performance status and development of SRE (SRE group vs no-SRE group) .CONCLUSION: SREs are common and impact on patient’s morbidity. Our results highlight the need for prospective studies exploring the role of prophylactic strategies to prevent / delay SREs.