Clinical Utility of the Modified Snare Technique for Percutaneous Antegrade Removal of Double J Ureteral Stents

Although a snare is the commonly used device for antegrade double J (DJ) stent removal, there are some cases in which DJ stent removal using only a snare is particularly difficult. In the present study, an unfavorable positioning of the proximal DJ stent tip and tip embeddedness were significantly associated with a simple snare technique failure; thus, present the modified snare technique to overcome the simple snare technique failure. By applying these 2 techniques together, we can increase the overall technical success rate up to 97% (196/202). The modified snare technique is safe and effective in cases of simple snare technique failure.     

Clinical Implications of Poststent Optical Coherence Tomographic Findings: Severe Malapposition and Cardiac Events

ObjectivesThis study sought to evaluate the impact of poststent optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings, including severe malapposition, on long-term clinical outcomes.BackgroundSuboptimal OCT findings following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are highly prevalent; however, their clinical implications remain controversial.MethodsOf the patients registered in the Yonsei OCT registry, a total of 1,290 patients with 1,348 lesions, who underwent OCT immediately poststenting, were consecutively enrolled for this study. All patients underwent implantation of drug-eluting stents. Poststent OCT findings were assessed to identify predictors of device-oriented clinical endpoints (DoCE), including cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction (MI) or stent thrombosis, and target lesion revascularization (TLR). Significant malapposition criteria associated with major safety events (MSE) were also investigated, such as cardiac death, target vessel-related MI, or stent thrombosis.ResultsThe median follow-up period was 43.0 months (interquartile range [IQR] 21.4 to 56.0 months). The incidence rates of stent edge dissection, tissue prolapse, thrombus, and malapposition after intervention were not associated with occurrence of DoCE. However, patients with significant malapposition (total malapposition volume [TMV] ≥7.0 mm³] exhibited more frequent MSE. A smaller minimal stent area (MSA) was identified as an independent predictor for DoCE (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.20 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00 to 1.43]; p = 0.045). Malapposition with TMV ≥7.0 mm³ was found to be an independent predictor of MSE (HR: 6.12 [95% CI: 1.88 to 19.95]; p = 0.003). Follow-up OCT at 3, 6, or 9 months after PCI showed that poststent TMV ≥7.0 mm³ was related to a greater occurrence of late malapposition and uncovered struts.ConclusionsAlthough most suboptimal OCT findings were not associated with clinical outcomes, a smaller MSA was associated with DoCE, driven mainly by TLR, and significant malapposition with TMV ≥7.0 mm³ was associated with more MSE after PCI. (Yonsei OCT [Optical Coherence Tomography] Registry for Evaluation of Efficacy and Safety of Coronary Stenting; Yonsei OCT registry; NCT02099162)     

Use of the Covera Stent Graft for the Treatment of Dysfunctional or Thrombosed Arteriovenous Grafts: A Retrospective Analysis of 64 Patients

PurposeTo retrospectively evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Covera stent graft (SG) for the treatment of dysfunctional or thrombosed arteriovenous grafts (AVGs).Materials and MethodsWithin 29 months (February 2016–August 2018), 79 patients underwent Covera SG placement in the authors’ department for the treatment of dysfunctional AVGs. Data were available for 64 patients who underwent 64 procedures, using 64 devices. Minimum follow-up was 6 months, unless reintervention occurred. Mean follow-up was 277 days (6–923 days). Treatment characteristics were 51 cases with venous-graft anastomosis (VGA) stenosis (79.7%), 13 cases of puncture zone stenosis (20.3%), 14 cases of in SG stenosis (21.9%), 8 cases of pseudoaneurysm treatment (12.5%) (1 treatment area might have had more than 1 characteristic). Thirty-six patients presented with thrombosis (56.2%), and 31 of 64 case were de novo treatment areas (48.4%). Primary outcome measurements were technical success and post-intervention primary patency (PIPP) at 6 months, whereas secondary outcome measurements included factors influencing primary outcome.ResultsTechnical success was 100%. Median PIPP was 336 days, and 73.6% of treatment areas were patent at 6 months. There were no significant differences in terms of PIPP when de novo treatment areas were compared with restenotic areas (519 vs. 320 days, respectively; P = .1); patients who presented with versus those who presented without thrombosis (320 vs. 583 days, respectively; P = .07); puncture zone stenosis or elsewhere (329 vs. 686 days, respectively; P = .52); and VGA stenosis or elsewhere (336 vs. 335 days, respectively; P = .9).ConclusionsUse of the Covera SG for AVG treatment was safe and effective in every type of treatment area presented in this retrospective analysis.     

A Soft,Flexible Stent/Bung for Marsupialisation

A soft flexible stent or bung for marsupialisation using putty elastomeric impression material rather than an acrylic bung.     

携带碘125粒子食管支架治疗食管癌的临床研究

目的:探究携带碘125粒子食管支架治疗食管癌的临床效果。方法:选择2010年1月至2018年1月于本院收治食管癌患者160例，按照随机数字表法分为观察组与对照组2组，对照组采用常规食管支架置入治疗，观察组采用携带碘125粒子食管支架治疗，评估两组患者吞咽困难及生活质量改善情况，并观察术后并发症及平均生存期。结果:术后两组患者Stooler评分均较术前降低，且观察组Stooler评分于术后1、3、6、12个月均显著低于对照组（P＜0.05）；术后3个月观察组吞咽困难、进食不适、疼痛、咽口水困难、吞咽梗阻、口干、言语评分均显著低于对照组（P＜0.05），而反流、味觉改变、咳嗽比较，差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）；观察组术后1个月并发症发生率16.25%显著低于对照组31.25%（P＜0.05）；观察组平均生存期显著高于对照组（P＜0.05）。结论:携带碘125粒子食管支架治疗食管癌效果显著，可改善患者吞咽困难症状，提高生活质量，延长生存期，值得临床应用推广。