经内镜胆道支架选择方式对恶性胆总管梗阻的疗效分析

目的观察各胆道支架选择方式对不同病因恶性胆总管梗阻的疗效、术后并发症及治疗费用。方法选择2010年7月至2015年12月在我院肝胆外科因恶性胆总管梗阻行ERCP术置入胆道支架治疗的47例患者作为研究对象,按照置入胆道支架的不同,所有病例分为金属支架组(A组,n=16)、单塑料支架组(B组,n=17)和多塑料支架组(C组,n=14),观察三组患者支架通畅时间、并发症及手术相关费用。结果对于胰腺癌型,A组和C组的平均支架通畅时间明显比B组长(P0.05),且A组优于C组,但差异无统计学意义(P0.05);对于胆管癌型和壶腹周围癌型,A组和C组的平均支架通畅时间明显比B组长,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);其中C组优于A组,但差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论针对不同病因的恶性胆总管梗阻患者,选择个性化胆道支架治疗方案,既提高治疗效果,减少并发症,又降低医疗费用,为患者的后续治疗节省成本。     

Endoscopic biliary stenting: Plastic stent or expandable metallic stent?

Since its introduction 1979, endoscopic biliary stenting has become the method of first choice to treat cholestasis in malignant or benign biliary obstuction or leakage of biliary fistulas. The success rate of endoscopic biliary stenting generally exceeds 90% and procedure-related complications are rare. Although metal stents are becoming more popular, plastic stents are still the first choice. Their major drawback is occlusion with sludge mediated by bacteria. Pharmaco-chemical measures failed to prevent occlusion. With Teflon material and a 10-French stent, stent exchange rates were reduced to 15% in patients with malignant biliary obstruction, the shape without sideholes showing the best results. Stent exchange is easily feasable. Metal stents are expensive and more difficult to handle. Occlusion with sludge is rare, but patency is limited by tumor ingrowth. Metal stents may be indicated in selected patients, such as those with recurrent stent occlusion causing cholangitis. If only a small-caliber prosthesis (7-Fr) can be placed (e.g. in Klatskin tumor) metal stents may have a longer patency than plastic stents. Metal stents should not be used in benign biliary obstruction because these stents are not removable.     

Gibt es eine nichtchirurgische Therapie der Gallenwegskarzinome?

Nonsurgical treatment aims at controlling disease and improving survival and quality of life in patients with nonresectable, recurrent metastatic cholangiocarcinomas. After R0 resection, percutaneous or intraluminal radiotherapy with adjuvant radiochemotherapy may improve survival. Available data, however, are still unsatisfactory, and the efficacy of adjuvant radiochemotherapy after R0 resection remains to be confirmed. Exclusive chemotherapy fails to improve survival postoperatively while, in adequate patients, neoadjuvant chemotherapy can improve R0 resection results. Palliative chemotherapy yielded improved survival and quality of life in only one small prospective randomized trial and cannot be generally recommended at present. Previous biliary stenting for relieving jaundice is mandatory. Beyond established regimens employing 5-fluorouracil/leukovorin and gemcitabine plus platin-based agents, ongoing trials are focussing on topoisomerase-and thyrosine kinase inhibitors. Palliative stenting of malignant bile duct stenoses may eliminate or at least relieve jaundice and pruritus. Single stenting is sufficient for distal bile duct stenoses. In patients with liver metastasis and life expectancy of <6 months, temporary plastic prostheses with 4-6-month patency are sufficient. When the prognosis is for >6 months, self-expanding permanent metal stents, with their significantly longer patency, are superior. In hilar tumors, obstruction of plastic prostheses occurs earlier than in distal bile duct stenoses. Thus, patients with Bismuth II-IV tumors benefit from self-expanding metal stents. These may be inserted by an endoscopic, retrograde approach, percutaneously, or by a combined rendez-vous maneuver. The superiority of bilateral vs unilateral stenting has yet to be proven in Bismuth II-IV tumors. Photodynamic therapy followed by stenting appears to improve survival rates by delaying stent occlusion rather than by regression of the tumoric disease itself.     

Biliary stenting for hepatobiliary-pancreatic disease

Since 1990, expandable metallic stents (EMS) have been used in biliary obstruction, which are thinner than the plastic endoprosthesis and can secure sufficient biliary tract. EMS treatment improves the prognosis of patients with unresectable malignant biliary obstruction. Several types of stent are available, and each has its own characteristics of expansion, flexibility, visibility, shorting, and size variation. Those characteristics must be taken into account when selecting a stent for individual patients. In the case of hepatic hilar obstruction, more than one EMS is needed and the position of stent placement is important. For bile duct cancer, stents should be placed in a side-by-side or end-to-side position, because in these cases the tumor affects in-growth through the stent, so repeat biliary drainage and stenting would be needed. EMS treatment is sometimes used for stenosis of the portal vein, but stent placement is not effective for chronic stenosis with collateral circulation. With the development of stenting instruments, biliary endoprosthesis has become safer and easier. But we must not forget that stent treatment is a palliative treatment and consider the indications for and selection of the stent carefully.     

Endoscopic management of postcholecystectomy bile duct strictures

BACKGROUND: Review of 1.6 million cholecystectomies, from 1992 to 1999, demonstrated a 0.5% incidence of bile duct injury, despite increasing experience with laparoscopy. The incidence has not decreased after the "learning curve." The management of major bile duct injuries has traditionally been by hepaticojejunostomy. Endoscopy has been increasingly used to treat these injuries. This study reviews the senior author's endoscopic treatment of bile duct injuries. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective study, from 1991 to 2006, examining data on 292 patients who were referred for postcholecystectomy problems; 199 had cholecystectomy-related injuries and 93 had other pathologies. Sixty-seven patients had bile duct injuries (Amsterdam Academic Medical Center Classification, types B, C, and D). Nineteen patients underwent bilioenteric bypass for complete bile duct occlusion or transection. In the remaining 48, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) evaluation and treatment were possible. Our protocol called for biliary stenting for 11 to 14 months, with stent changes at 3-month intervals. Short- and longterm results were evaluated by clinical, radiologic, and laboratory studies. RESULTS: Forty-six patients were selected for endoscopic management by balloon dilation and biliary stent placement. The mean +/- SD duration of endoscopic stenting was 12+/-9.8 months and followup was 30+/-24 months after stent removal. During the followup period, 10 of 46 patients (22%) had recurrent stricture: 6 (13%) responded to endoscopic biliary stenting and 4 (9%) required hepaticojejunostomy. Complications included pancreatitis (8%). There were no deaths in the endoscopic group. CONCLUSIONS: ERCP intervention is a safe, effective, minimally invasive treatment for bile duct strictures after cholecystectomy and can be an alternative to hepaticojejunostomy.     

A comparative study of 10-Fr vs. 7-Fr straight plastic stents in the treatment of postcholecystectomy bile leak

Background Biliary decompression is a key factor in the treatment of postcholecystectomy bile leak. However, the optimal size of the stent introduced by therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is yet to be determined. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of two straight plastic stents with different sizes (10-Fr and 7-Fr) in the treatment of postcholecystectomy bile leak. Methods Between January 2003 and August 2006, 63 patients underwent therapeutic ERCP for postcholecystectomy bile leak. After visualization of the bile duct injury, endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed and the patients were randomized to receive either a 7-Fr (31 subjects, group A) or a 10-Fr (32 subjects, group B) straight plastic stent for four weeks. The success of the endoscopic treatment was determined by the elimination of the symptoms and the removal of the drain without any adverse outcomes. Results The endoscopic intervention was successful in 29 patients of group A (93.54%) and in 31 patients of group B (96.87%). In the remaining two patients of group A, the 7-Fr stent was substituted by a 10-Fr stent after 7 days because the leak remained unaffected, resulting in healing of the leaks. Surgery was required in the remaining one patient of group B. Eight patients developed post-ERCP pancreatitis (5 mild, 2 moderate, 1 severe), which was treated conservatively. Conclusions This trial suggests that the stent size does not affect the outcome of the endoscopic intervention in postcholecystectomy bile leaks due to minor biliary tract injury; however, larger cohorts are required to confirm the optimal stent size in bile leaks due to major bile duct injury.     

Endoscopic stenting versus surgical bypass in advanced malignant distal bile duct obstruction: cost-effectiveness analysis

OBJECTIVE: Palliative treatment of obstructive jaundice from advanced tumour of the distal bile duct is controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes and costs between endoscopic stent insertion and surgery. METHODS: The clinical data for 116 patients treated with either endoscopic plastic stenting (65 patients) or surgical bypass (51 patients) were reviewed and analysed. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of the length of hospital stay, survival time, cost, effectiveness, and early complications. However, late complications were significantly more common in the stenting group (p = 0.007). Jaundice recurred in 15 stented patients at a median time of 3 months due to stent blockage, and one surgical patient had recurrent jaundice from anastomosis stricture. Late gastric outlet obstruction occurred in one of 36 surgical patients who did not undergo prophylactic gastroenterostomy and one of 65 stented patients developed this complication. CONCLUSION: Both techniques are equally effective in biliary drainage, but stenting has a higher rate of recurrent jaundice. We recommend surgery for patients with low surgical risks and endoscopic stent in those with a short life expectancy or those unfit for surgery.     

Pancreaticoduodenectomy after placement of endobiliary metal stents

Contemporary treatment programs for patients with potentially resectable pancreatic cancer often involve preoperative therapy. When the duration of preoperative therapy exceeds 2 months, the risk of plastic endobiliary stent occlusion increases. Metal stents have much better patency but may complicate subsequent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). We evaluated rates of perioperative morbidity, mortality, and stent complications in 272 consecutive patients who underwent PD at our institution from May 2001 to November 2004. Of these 272 patients, 29 (11%) underwent PD after placement of a metal stent, 141 underwent PD after placement of a plastic stent, 10 had PD after biliary bypass without stenting, and 92 had PD without any form of biliary decompression. No differences were found between the Metal Stent group and all other patients in median operative time, intraoperative blood loss, or length of hospital stay. No perioperative deaths occurred in the Metal Stent group versus 3 (1.2%) deaths in the other 243 patients. The incidence of major perioperative complications was similar between the two groups, including the rates of pancreatic fistula, intra-abdominal abscess, and wound infection. Furthermore, there were no differences in the perioperative morbidity or mortality rates between patients who underwent preoperative biliary decompression with a stent of any kind (metal or plastic) and those patients who underwent no biliary decompression at all. Metal stent-related complications occurred in 2 (7%) of 29 patients during a median preoperative interval of 4.1 months; in contrast, 75 (45%) of the 166 patients who had had plastic stents experienced complications, including 98 stent occlusions, during a median preoperative interval of 3.9 months (P < 0.001). We conclude that the use of expandable metal stents does not increase PD-associated perioperative morbidity or mortality, and as such an expandable metal stent is our preferred method of biliary decompression in patients with symptomatic malignant distal bile duct obstruction in whom surgery is not anticipated, or in whom there is a significant delay in the time to surgery. Presented at the Forty-Sixth Annual Meeting of The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Chicago, Illinois, May 14–18, 2005 (oral presentation). Supported by the Lockton Fund for Pancreatic Cancer Research, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.     

Use of an opened umbilical vein patch for the reconstruction of the injured biliary tract

Background/Purpose When iatrogenic biliary tract injury occurs, there is the risk of complications such as bile leak and biliary stricture, and hepaticojejunostomy is the conventional procedure used for injury repair. However, this procedure can be complicated by retrograde biliary tract infection and the procedure can destroy the normal anatomical structure. Methods We report here a method of end-to-end biliary tract reconstruction that uses an opened umbilical vein (OUV) patch and two stents to reduce bile leakage and biliary stricture formation following injury to the common bile duct or right main bile duct. The postoperative courses of four patients are reviewed. Results In two of the patients, there was a small amount of postoperative bile drainage (for 3 days in the first patient and 2 days in the second patient). Of the two stents, the first stent was removed 1 month postoperatively, and the second stent at 2 to 3 months postoperatively. Three patients have returned to normal activity without symptoms after 44, 62, and 93 months, respectively. One patient died of a liver tumor recurrence in the fifth postoperative month, without a biliary problem. Conclusions An OUV patch for end-to-end biliary reconstruction reduced the volume and duration of bile leakage. Further research is needed to accurately evaluate the stenting period so as to reduce its duration.     

External biliary fistulas selectively managed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography with sphincterotomy and/or stent placement

External bile duct fistulas are inherent postoperative complications that usually appear after biliary tract surgery, traumatic bile duct injuries and liver surgery for hepatic hydatid disease or liver transplant. The management is highly individualized, while the success and long-term results of endoscopic and surgical techniques are conflicting. The study included 32 cases with external bile duct fistulas managed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) with sphincterotomy and/or stent placement, including "rendez-vous" procedures in 2 cases. The causes of the external fistula were represented by cholecystectomy with/without retained common bile duct stones or strictures (22 cases), cholecystectomy and drainage of a subphrenic abscess caused by severe acute pancreatitis (1 case) and surgical interventions for hepatic hydatid disease (9 cases). Due to the prospective protocol of the study we were able to apply an individualized endoscopic treatment: sphincterotomy with proper relief of the bile duct obstruction (stone extraction) or sphincterotomy with large-size (10 Fr) stent placement for large-sized bile duct defects. The results consisted in closure of the fistula in 3.5 +/- 1.7 days for the subgroup of patients with sphincterotomy alone. Among the patients with stent insertion, fistulas healed slower in 14 +/- 3.5 days. There were no complications after endoscopic treatment; however the stent could not be passed in one patient that required subsequent surgery. In conclusion, endoscopic intervention is the treatment of choice for small external biliary fistulas complicating biliary tract surgery or liver surgery for hepatic hydatid disease. When the fistula is large, the placement of a 10 Fr endoprosthesis becomes necessary, while failure of endoscopic treatment leads to surgery with hepatico-jejunal anastomosis.     

Interventional treatment of biliary stricture

Biliary stenting is a well-established intervention in pancreatic-biliary disease. Although interventional therapy is an excellent less-invasive method that can improve the quality of life of patients with stricture of the bile duct, inappropriate application can be harmful. The procedure includes the endoscopic as well as percutaneous transhepatic approach. The indications for each procedure depend upon the characteristics of the lesion, and technical feasibility must also be considered. Two types of prosthesis, the plastic tube stent (TS) and expandable metallic stent(EMS), are available. Since the former costs less and has the advantage of removability compared with the latter, it can be used in the treatment of benign strictures and for temporary stenting of resectable malignant strictures. However, the TS has a short patency period because it is likely to become occluded by clogging. In contrast, the EMS has a long patency period due to its large diameter, and multiple stents can be placed in hepatic hilar strictures. Tumor ingrowth is a major late complication of EMS. To maintain patency, other procedures such as radiation, microwave coagulation therapy, and hyperthermia can be considered in combination with EMS, which may contribute to further improvement in survival and quality of life in patients with unresectable malignant biliary strictures. Those procedures should not be performed in patients with benign biliary strictures since the EMS cannot be removed, and the long-term outcome after placement remains to be clarified.     

腹腔镜经胆囊管开口取石并内支架引流治疗胆囊结石合并胆总管结石

目的:探讨腹腔镜胆囊切除及经胆囊管开口取石并内支架引流术的可行性及临床疗效。方法:2008年1月至2013年1月为28例胆囊结石合并胆总管结石患者行腹腔镜胆囊切除术(laparoscopic cholecystectomy,LC)及经胆囊管开口胆管探查取石,内支架引流管引流并一期缝合胆管术。总结其适应证、操作技术及临床疗效。结果:28例均成功完成LC及经胆囊管开口取石并内支架引流术。胆管内取出单一结石19例,2~4枚结石9例。手术时间平均(43.6±19.8)min,平均住院(7.9±3.5)d。26例支架自行脱落并顺利排出体外;2例未自行排出的患者,于1个月后经十二指肠镜行胆道支架取出。未发生胆管结石残留、胆管狭窄、胆漏等手术并发症。结论:LC及腹腔镜经胆囊管开口取石并内支架引流术具有手术时间短、术式简单、术后并发症少等特点,在严格掌握适应证、选择合适病例的情况下,此术式安全、有效、可行。     

Endoscopic biliary stenting for irretrievable common bile duct stones: Indications, advantages, disadvantages, and follow-up results

BackgroundThe advantages of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) over open surgery have made it the predominant method of treating patients with choledocholithiasis. After sphincterotomy, however, 10%–15% of common bile duct (CBD) stones cannot be removed with a basket or balloon. Methods for managing “irretrievable stones” include surgery; mechanical, intraductal shock wave, and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy; chemical dissolution; and biliary stenting. Endoscopic biliary stent insertion, which is frequently used in specific situations, has both advantages and disadvantages. To maximize the advantages and minimize the complications of biliary endoprosthesis, it is important to recognize its proper indications and to apply the technique in proper situations.Data sourcesWe reviewed all publications cited in Pubmed and published through July 2011 on biliary endoprosthesis in patients with irretrievable CBD stones. We analyzed the indications, advantages, disadvantages, and long-term follow-up results of this technique.ResultsDespite the occurrence of related complications, such as cholangitis, endoscopic placement of an endoprosthesis may reduce stone size, allowing later clearance of unextractable stones. Permanent biliary stenting may be a definitive treatment in selected elderly patients who are poor candidates for surgery.ConclusionEndoscopic biliary stenting remains a simple and safe method for patients with stones difficult to manage by conventional endoscopic methods and those patients unfit for surgery or at high surgical risks.     

Risk of pancreatitis following endoscopically placed large-bore plastic biliary stents with and without biliary sphincterotomy for management of postoperative bile leaks

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic transpapillary biliary stent placement is effective for closure of postoperative bile leaks. Large-bore stents (10 French) may transiently obstruct the adjacent pancreatic duct orifice causing acute pancreatitis. Endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy may reduce this risk, but it introduces separate risks of bleeding and perforation. The objective of this study was to compare complications after large-bore biliary stent placement (10 Fr) with and without sphincterotomy in patients with bile leaks. METHODS: The institutional endoscopy database was queried to identify patients who had undergone endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogrpahy (ERCP) for bile leak between March 1996 and August 2006. Procedural reports were reviewed for evidence of biliary sphincterotomy, cholangiographic and pancreatographic findings, transpapillary stent placement, and procedural complications. Patients with prior biliary sphincterotomy, choledochoenteric anastomosis, placement of multiple biliary stents and expandable metal biliary stents, biliary stents smaller than 10 Fr, and patients in whom a stent was not placed were excluded. The chi-square test was used for categorical variables. Probability 相似文献   

Decreasing mortality of bile leaks after elective hepatic surgery

BACKGROUND: Bile leak is a serious complication following major hepatic surgery. It is associated with significant mortality rates if reoperative management is attempted. We evaluated our experience with aggressive, nonoperative management of postoperative biliary complications. METHODS: All medical records of patients undergoing major liver resection, cryosurgery or radiofrequency ablation from September 1996 through March 1999 were reviewed. RESULTS: Seventy-four patients were identified, and 9 (12%) developed bile leaks. Biliary leaks were investigated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and treated with endoscopic stenting when possible. The bile leak was found to originate from the resected duct stump or ablated surface of the liver in all cases. Patients were treated with ERCP stent placement (5), computed tomography-guided percutaneous drainage (3), and hepaticojejunostomy "chimney" (1). Six of 9 patients had resolution of their bile leak with the mean time of removal of the drain of 4.7 months. There was only 1 death, and that patient died nearly 3 months after surgery from complications not directly related to the bile leak. CONCLUSIONS: Bile leak after liver resection can be managed nonoperatively in most cases with a combination of percutaneous drain placement and biliary stenting. Most bile leaks will close with time, although a drain may be required for many months.     

Clinical outcome of simultaneous self-expandable metal stents for palliation of malignant biliary and duodenal obstruction

Background: Previous studies have shown that self-expanding metal stents are an effective method for palliation of malignant biliary or duodenal obstruction. We present our experience with the use of simultaneous self-expandable metal stents for palliation of malignant biliary and duodenal obstruction. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all patients undergoing simultaneous biliary and duodenal self-expandable metal stent placement between November 98 and May 2001. All the patients had documented evidence of biliary obstruction and symptomatic duodenal obstruction. The patients received endoscopic biliary stenting with biliary Ultraflex or Wallstents, and endoscopic duodenal stenting using enteral Wallstents. They were followed until their death. Results: We identified 18 patients (11 men and 7 women) whose mean age was 65 years, (range, 46–85 years). Malignancies included pancreatic 14 (78%), biliary 2 (11%), lymphoma 1 (5%), and metastatic 1 (5%) disorders. Ten patients previously had plastic biliary stents placed for past malignant biliary obstruction (4 patients had recurrent biliary obstruction). All the patients had evidence of duodenal obstruction. Combined metal stenting was successful in 17 patients. One procedure failed due to a tortuous duodenal stricture. All the patients had effective palliation of biliary obstruction, as evidenced by a decrease in the level of total bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase. Of the 17 patients with successful duodenal stenting, 16 had a good clinical outcome, with relief of obstructive symptoms. No immediate stent-related complications were noted. During the follow-up period, 12 patients died of progression of the underlying malignancy. None of the deaths were stent related. Median survival time was 78 days. Two patients had recurrent biliary obstruction from tumor ingrowth at 45 and 68 days, respectively. Both underwent restenting: one by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and the other by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC). Two other patients had recurrent duodenal obstruction, respectively, 36 and 45 days after the initial stenting. One obstruction was secondary to tumor ingrowth, and the other was caused by distal stent migration. Both patients had successful duodenal restenting. Conclusion: Combined self-expandable metal stenting for simultaneous palliation of malignant biliary and duodenal obstruction may provide a safe and less invasive alternative to surgical palliation with an acceptable clinical outcome. Simultaneous self-expandable metal stents should be considered as a treatment option for patients who are poor candidates for surgery.     

内镜下胆道支架置入治疗肝胆外科术后胆漏的临床观察

目的探讨内镜下胆道支架置入对肝胆外科手术后胆漏的治疗效果。方法回顾性分析我院2001年1月～2005年12月收治的11例肝胆外科术后胆漏，提出胆漏新的临床分型：Ⅰ型，胆囊管漏；Ⅱ型，肝外胆管漏（漏口直径小于胆管直径1／3的为A型，大于1／3为B型）；Ⅲ型，肝内胆管漏（肝内胆管盲端漏为A型，引流肝段以下的肝内胆管漏为B型，引流肝段以上的肝内胆管漏为C型）；Ⅳ型，Luschka管漏。结果11例中Ⅰ型6例，ⅡA型2例，ⅢA型1例，ⅢB型2例。4例行单纯支架置入，7例行Oddi括约肌切开联合支架置人。术后3周拔除支架6例，1个月拔除支架2例，2周、6个月和9个月拔除支架各1例。11例经内镜治疗后腹痛缓解，腹腔胆汁引流消失，黄疸消退。1例随访6个月，10例随访1—3年，均未复发腹痛、发热、黄疸、腹腔积液，血胆红素正常。结论内镜下胆道支架置入是治疗肝胆外科术后大多数胆漏的有效手段之一，胆漏新临床分型对治疗方法的选择具有一定的指导意义。     

Tannenbaum and metal stents in the palliative treatment of malignant distal bile duct obstruction: a comparative study of patency and cost effectiveness

Background Stent clogging is the major limitation of palliative treatment for malignant biliary obstruction. Metal stents have much better patency than plastic stents, but are more expensive. Preliminary data suggest that the recently designed plastic (Tannenbaum) stent has better duration of patency than the polyethylene stent. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and cost effectiveness between the Tannenbaum stent without side holes and the uncovered metal stent for patients with malignant distal common bile duct obstruction. Methods In this study, 47 patients (median age, 73 years, range, 56–86 years) with inoperable malignant distal common bile duct strictures were prospectively randomized to receive either a Tannenbaum stent (n = 24) or an uncovered self-expandable metal stent (n = 23). The patients were clinically evaluated, and biochemical tests were analyzed if necessary until their death or surgery for gastric outlet obstruction. Cumulative first stent patency and patient survival were compared between the two groups. Cost-effectiveness analysis also was performed for the two study groups. Results The two groups were comparable in terms of age, gender, and diagnosis. The median first stent patency was longer in the metal group than in the Tannenbaum stent group (255 vs 123.5 days; p = 0.002). There was no significant difference in survival between the two groups. The total cost associated with the Tannenbaum stents was lower than for the metal stents (17,700 vs 30,100 euros; p = 0.001), especially for patients with liver metastases (3,000 vs 6,900 euros; p < 0.001). Conclusions Metal stent placement is an effective treatment for inoperable malignant distal common bile duct obstruction, but Tannenbaum stent placement is a cost-saving strategy, as compared with metal stent placement, especially for patients with liver metastases and expected short survival time.     

Laparoscopic antegrade biliary stenting for postoperative endoscopic clearance of biliary stones.

Unsuspected ductal stones discovered during laparoscopic cholecystectomy may necessitate conversion to an open procedure, laparoscopic extraction, or postoperative endoscopic papillotomy. In order not to lose the advantages of a minimally invasive treatment and to decrease the likelihood of postoperative endoscopic failure, laparoscopic antegrade biliary stenting was attempted in 10 unselected patients (8 women, 2 men; mean age 52 +/- 11.4 years) with intraoperatively detected common bile duct stones. The mean diameter of these stones was 7 mm (range 5-11 mm). One stenting failed because of stone impaction, but the procedure was successful with effective biliary drainage in nine patients. The mean operative time was 70 (range 50-165) minutes. Subsequent ERCP was performed a mean of 8 (range 6-20) days after surgery. Deep cannulation, stent-guided papillotomy, and duct clearance was achieved in all stented patients, without any complication. Laparoscopic antegrade biliary stenting provides a guide for subsequent endoscopic stone removal, minimizing the risks of either stent migration or endoscopic failure. This combined technique is safe and cost effective and may be considered when ductal stones are discovered unexpectedly during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.     

胆道塑料支架置入术治疗高龄胆总管结石

目的 评价内镜下胆道塑料支架置入术治疗高龄胆总管结石患者的效果.方法 回顾性分析2008年1月至2010年12月于我院行内镜下胆道塑料支架置入术的41例高龄胆总管结石患者(70~93岁)的临床资料.结果 本组41例患者中均顺利完成内镜下胆道塑料支架置入术,术后5d复查肝功能较入院时明显好转,术后每3个月行ERCP检查,根据结石变化情况,决定行取石或更换塑料支架治疗.经平均2.5次内镜下治疗,82.9％ (34/41)患者结石取净.平均随访时间21个月(8~40个月),未发生与ERCP或留置支架相关的严重并发症.结论 内镜下胆道塑料支架置入术是治疗高龄胆总管结石患者安全、有效并且微创的方法.