Think You Know GORE® Viabil®?
Think Again.
The Game-Changing Advantage of Holes.

Because maintaining cystic duct drainage shouldn't be an afterthought.

  • Published: 12/4/2025
  • 4 min

The Stent That Thinks One Step Ahead

Rethink What Your Biliary Stent Can Do

In ERCP, attention to detail can mean the difference between success and complications. And yet, one of the most common challenges during biliary stent placement in patients with an intact gallbladder is the unintentional exclusion of the cystic duct – increasing the risk for cholecystitis.
That’s why the GORE® VIABIL® Short Wire Biliary Endoprosthesis with Holes exists.
The GORE® VIABIL® Short Wire Biliary Endoprosthesis has long been trusted for its precision, control, and reliability – offering the only non-foreshortening, fully covered metal stents on the U.S. market that remain stationary throughout the duration of deployment, eliminating the need for a push-pull technique. What you see pre-deployment is exactly what you get post-deployment. Paired with proven anti-migration technology, it's designed to minimize the need for reintervention. 1

The Small Holes Making a Big Difference

36 Fenestrations.
360° Function.
0 Exposed Wire.

This isn’t your standard biliary stent with a minor twist.

The hole configuration of the GORE® VIABIL® is engineered specifically to allow for transmural drainage when navigating branch ducts, particularly the cystic duct.

High Axial Force

high axial force

Low Axial Force

high axial force

Here’s what you’re working with:

36 triangular holes – wrapping fully around the proximal 2 cm of the hepatic end
Lined with ePTFE/FEP – maintains a fully covered design with no exposed wire
Optimal balance of low Axial force and moderate Radial force – allowing natural conformance of the stent to the bile duct anatomy

The result? A stent that allows you to maintain patency in complex anatomy – without giving up the anti-migration technology the GORE® VIABIL® name is known for.2,3

Aim with Confidence: A Third Marker That Matters

Fluoroscopic Accuracy Where It Counts Most

Placement is everything. Especially when you’re working near the cystic duct or other side branches.
gore viabil short wire

That’s why the fenestrated version of GORE® VIABIL® includes a third radiopaque marker – clearly identifying the boundaries of the holed region. This means:

More control during deployment
Better alignment with branch ducts
Less guesswork under fluoroscopy

Choose the Right Size.
Match the Right Scenario.

The GORE® VIABIL® with Holes is available in 6 cm, 8 cm, and 10 cm lengths, allowing you to match the stent to a variety of patient anatomies and procedural needs.

8 cm

Keep the Control You’re Used To

Quick Exchanges
Short wire delivery system
Smooth Guidewire Control
Precise handling ensures confidence in a variety of patient anatomies and procedural needs
Procedural Efficiency
Designed to work at your pace without slowing you down

Placement Considerations – Think Strategically, Stent Tactically

Use the Anatomy to Guide You

Before choosing a stent with holes, consider the anatomy – and the implications:

Map the biliary tree thoroughly with cholangiography
If a branch duct may be crossed by the stent, the holed version should be your go-to

Remember:

The fenestrated hepatic end accounts for 2cm worth of the total stent length
The proximal radiopaque marker should be placed 1cm above the stricture
The distal radiopaque marker should be extended 1cm transpapillary
Use radiopaque markers and guidewire intervals to guide exact placement

A Stent That Solves a Problem Before It Starts

Precision Placement. Proactive Protection.

gore viabil upclose

You don’t want to find out post-procedure that the cystic duct was unintentionally blocked.

You don’t want to manage avoidable complications.

And you don’t have to.

GORE® VIABIL® with Holes was developed for this exact clinical scenario – to proactively maintain flow where a traditional covered stent might interrupt it.

Ready to See What Those 36 Holes Can Do?

Whether you're preserving cystic duct drainage or navigating complex biliary anatomy, GORE® VIABIL® gives you confidence from start to finish.

Let’s bring that level of control to your next case.

Request a Demo of GORE® VIABIL® with Holes
Speak with Your Local Sales Rep
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1 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc; Biliary Fully Covered Metal Stents Systematic Review of the Clinical Literature. Flagstaff, AZ; 2019. [Work plan]. WP111272.
2 Isayama H, Nakai Y, Toyokawa Y, et al. Measurement of radial and axial forces of biliary self-expandable metallic stents. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 2009;70(1):37-44.
3 Isayama H, Mukai T, Itoi T, et al. Comparison of partially covered nitinol stents with partially covered stainless stents as a historical control in a multicenter study of distal malignant biliary obstruction: the WATCH