Analysis of longterm survivors with expandable metallic stent inserted for malignant biliary stenosis

Background/Purpose. Some patients with unresectable malignant biliary stenosis can survive for more than 1 year after the insertion of self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS). The aim of this study was to analyze the background of the longterm survivors.Methods. In our study, 111 patients with inserted SEMS were divided into two groups: patients who died within 1 year and patients still alive for more than 1 year. The parameters analyzed were survival rate, survival period, patent period of the inserted SEMS, adjuvant therapy, and complications.Results. The number of those who survived for more than 1 year totaled 24 (21.6%). Their diagnoses were bile duct carcinoma (15/31; 48.4%) and pancreas carcinoma (9/28; 32.9%). There were no survivors with other diseases. The survival period and stent-patent period of the patients with bile duct carcinoma (429.2 days and 589.7 days, respectively) and pancreas carcinoma (270.1 days and 336.4 days, respectively) were significantly longer than those of the patients with other diseases. The specific complication of the longterm survivors was duodenal obstruction.Conclusions. Many patients with bile duct carcinoma and pancreas carcinoma survived for more than 1 year and adjuvant therapy should be performed to improve the survival of those patients.     

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.     

Examination of expandable metallic stent removed at autopsy

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the damage to expandable metallic stents (EMS) based upon analysis of EMS removed at autopsy. METHODOLOGY: Seventeen EMS were obtained during autopsy from the main bronchi of nine patients with lung cancer. Each EMS was categorized into one of the following three groups, according to the degree of EMS damage: no damage at all (ND), damage to part of the EMS (PD), and marked damage (MD) that caused loss of function of the airway stent. The removed EMS were examined using a scanning electron microscope. RESULTS: Of the 17 stents, ND occurred in 13 (7/9 primary, 6/8 secondary), PD in four (all secondary), and MD in none. None of the stents had completely lost the ability to function as an airway stent. Bacterial biofilm formation (BBF) was detected on EMS from four patients. CONCLUSIONS: Bacterial biofilm forms on EMS implanted into the airway. Some physical damage was present in four of 17 EMS, but all remained functional.     

Surgical bypass versus metallic stent for unresectable pancreatic cancer

With the development of interventional radiology and endoscopy, the practice of inserting expandable metallic stents for malignant jaundice has become widespread. Many studies have compared surgical bypass with polyethylene stents, or metallic stents with polyethylene stents. However, few data are available on the comparison of surgical bypass and metallic stents. The aim of this study was to compare the patient's postprocedure course and the cost performance of surgical bypass and metallic stents in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. The parameters analyzed were the rates of procedural and therapeutic success, duration of hospital stay, prevalence of early and late complications, cost performance, and prognosis. The rates of procedural and therapeutic success were excellent with both palliative treatments. With surgical bypass, there was a low prevalence of late complications, but duodenal obstruction sometimes occurred in patients without gastric bypass. With metallic stents, there was shorter hospitalization and lower cost, but a higher prevalence of late complications. Stent occlusion tended to occur in patients with uncovered metallic stents. There was no difference in the prognosis between the two palliative treatments. Thus, in consideration of the poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer, in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer, insertion of covered metallic stents would be preferable to surgical bypass, because of the subsequent short hospitalization and the low cost. On the other hand, in patients with a relatively long expected prognosis, or in those with existing duodenal obstruction, biliary bypass with gastrojejunostomy may provide an advantage.     

Covered self expandable metallic stent with flared plastic one inside for pancreatic pseudocyst avoiding stent dislodgement

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage has recently been recommended for increasing the drainage rate of endoscopically managed pancreatic fluid collections and decreasing the morbidity associated with conventional endoscopic trans-mural drainage. The type of stent used for endoscopic drainage is currently a major area of interest. A covered self expandable metallic stent (CSEMS) is an alternative to conventional drainage with plastic stents because it offers the option of providing a larger-diameter access fi stula for drainage, and may increase the fi nal success rate. One problem with CSEMS is dislodgement, so a metallic stent with flared or looped ends at both extremities may be the best option. An 85-year-old woman with severe comorbidity was treated with percutaneous approach for a large (20 cm) pancreatic pseudocyst with corpuscolated material inside. This approach failed. The patient was transferred to our institute for EUS-guided transmural drainage. EUS confi rmed a large, anechoic cyst with hyperechoic material inside. Because the cyst was large and contained mixed and corpusculated fluid, we used a metallic stent for drainage. To avoid migration of the stent and potential mucosal growth above the stent, a plastic prosthesis (7 cm, 10 Fr) with flaps at the tips was inserted inside the CSEMS. Two months later an esophagogastroduodenoscopy was done, and showed patency of the SEMS and plastic stents, which were then removed with a polypectomy snare. The patient experienced no further problems.     

PTCD＋金属支架治疗恶性阻塞性黄疸600例分析

目的观察经皮经肝胆管穿刺置管引流（PTCD）＋金属支架置入术对恶性阻塞性黄疸的疗效。方法对600例恶性阻塞性黄疸患者进行回顾性分析,其中胆管癌261例,胰头癌109例,肝癌107例,胆囊癌25例,胃癌术后43例,肝转移癌43例,Vater壶腹癌12例,均采用PTCD＋金属支架置入术治疗。结果技术成功率100%。2例术后2 h出现胆道出血,经积极治疗出血停止;5例术后出现胆道感染,经治疗后感染得到控制。无其他严重并发症。术后患者全身状况改善,血清总胆红素水平显著下降。中位生存期6.5个月。术后存活半年以上298例,其中129例于术后6、7、12个月再次出现阻塞性黄疸。结论 PTCD＋金属支架置入术具有操作简单、疗效显著的优点,是治疗恶性阻塞性黄疸的理想方法。     

Management of an occluded biliary metallic stent

In patients with a malignant biliary obstruction who require biliary drainage,a self-expandable metallic stent(SEMS) provides longer patency duration than a plastic stent(PS).Nevertheless,a stent occlusion by tumor ingrowth,tumor overgrowth and biliary sludge may develop.There are several methods to manage occluded SEMS.Endoscopic management is the preferred treatment,whereas percutaneous intervention is an alternative approach.Endoscopic treatment involves mechanical cleaning with a balloon and a second stent insertion as stent-in-stent with either PS or SEMS.Technical feasibility,patient survival and cost-effectiveness are important factors that determine the method of re-drainage and stent selection.     

Endoscopic treatment for benign biliary strictures: Can placement of a covered metallic stent be an option in refractory cases?

Background: Recently, endoscopic treatment has been attempted to counter benign biliary strictures. It is expected to be an alternative to surgical operation because of its lower morbidity and its convenience, but the long‐term results have not yet been sufficiently elucidated. Here, we evaluate the short‐ and long‐term results of endoscopic stenting in patients with benign biliary strictures, and also describe a new technique using a covered metallic stent (CMS) in the refractory cases. Methods: The charts of 22 consecutive patients with benign biliary stricture treated endoscopically at our institutions between December 1995 and December 2002 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Stricture etiology was as follows: postoperative, nine; chronic pancreatitis, seven; primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), three; and other, three. The stent initially placed was a 7 Fr in 11 patients and a 10 Fr in 11 patients. Eighteen of 22 patients (82%) were successfully treated by the initial treatment, and stents were removed after a mean duration of 3.1 months (range: 1–14 months). In the remaining four patients, stents were exchanged once to four times after that, and a CMS was placed as the second endoprosthesis in two patients with chronic pancreatitis. These stents, including CMS, were finally removed from these four patients after a mean duration of 14.8 months (range: 8–22 months). Over a median follow‐up period of 26 months (range: 6–78 months), one recurrence has been observed, in which case a CMS was placed in a patient with chronic pancreatitis. The CMS was removed successfully 6 months after the insertion, and no recurrence was observed during the 6‐month follow‐up period. Conclusions: Endoscopic stenting for benign biliary stricture is an alternative to surgery because it shows satisfactory results. Placement of a CMS would also be an option in refractory strictures, such as those due in chronic pancreatitis, if the certainty of removal is proven by cumulative experience with a large number of patients.     

金属胆道支架治疗恶性梗阻性黄疸的临床疗效

目的 探讨胆道金属支架治疗恶性阻塞性黄疸(MOJ)的临床疗效. 方法 回顾性分析1998年2月至2009年2月的241例MOJ患者临床资料,所有患者均接受经皮肝穿刺胆道金属支架置入术.评价预后以死亡为研究终点,随访时间截至2010年2月,统计学分析比较患者生存期及治疗前后各实验室指标改变,评价疗效.计数资料采用x2检验,计量资料用t检验;生存率比较采用Kaplan-Meier法;Cox回归模型评估各危险因素对生存时间的影响. 结果 支架置入技术成功率为100％.支架置入术后4周内血清胆红素下降明显(P＜ 0.05),术后院内死亡11例,失访28例,202例获得完整随访资料;随访时间为8～ 193周,其13周、26周、39周、52周的生存率分别为87％、66％、56％、41％,中位生存期为43.55周.同期支架通畅率分别为70％、46％、36％和24％,平均通畅时间为27.57周.Cox回归分析示:术前胆红素＜ 221 μmol/L(P=0.01)及术后胆红素下降比例超过50％(P=0.002)者预后较好.结论 胆道金属支架置入术治疗MOJ技术安全、可行,可有效缓解黄疸症状,延长生存期.高胆红素血症及胆红素下降程度低于50％是影响MOJ患者生存率的因素.     

Endoscopically inserted biliary endoprosthesis in malignant obstructive jaundice A survey of the literature

ABSTRACT— Eighty-seven publications in English on endoscopic bile duct stenting for palliation of obstructive jaundice were electronically or manually retrieved. Only eight of these studies were found to represent series of more than 20 patients and to include only a single presentation of data from patients published more than once. These eight studies refer to data on 856 patients, of whom 702 are from four open series, whereas 154 are from four randomized trials comparing endoscopic insertion of endoprosthesis to percutaneous stents or surgical by-pass. Endoscopic insertion was successful in about 90% of the patients. Stent diameters were 7–12 French. Patient survival was not affected as it is governed by the natural history of the underlying malignant disease. Endoscopic endoprosthesis was superior to percutaneous stenting and equal to surgical by-pass, but probably less resource consuming. The most important unsolved problem is the tendency to cholangitis and clogging of endoprostheses. Some suggestions concerning questions to be addressed in a more uniform manner in future publications on this subject are presented.     

Clinical evaluation of double stenting for duodenal and biliary obstructions caused by pancreatic head carcinoma using covered self‐expandable metallic stents

Five patients with non‐resectable pancreatic head carcinoma complicated by duodenal and biliary obstructions were successfully treated by double stenting with covered self‐expandable metallic stents (EMS). Diamond (Boston Scientific, Natick City, MA, USA) stents covered with a polyurethane membrane were used to treat biliary obstructions, whereas covered Ultraflex (Boston Scientific) stents for esophageal stenting were used to treat duodenal obstructions. That is, Diamond stents were initially placed in the biliary tract percutaneously in one patient and endoscopically in the remaining four patients. Subsequently, covered Ultraflex stents were placed in the duodenum. Double stenting with EMS was successfully performed in all five patients without inducing early technical complications. All patients were able to take a liquid diet orally at a mean 1.6 days after the double stenting procedure and were able to eat solid foods thereafter. Sludge‐induced biliary obstructions were detected in two patients 3 and 6 months after the placement of EMS. However, recurrent biliary obstruction was not noted in the remaining three patients. The EMS left in the duodenum were not obstructed during the observation period. The survival period of the patients ranged from 86 to 363 days (mean 172 days). There have not been any reports evaluating the usefulness of double stenting using covered EMS for duodenal and biliary obstructions. Because favorable results were obtained by double stenting in our patients, stenting for duodenal and biliary obstructions caused by non‐resectable pancreatic head carcinoma may become a useful treatment modality substituting for bypass surgery.     

Extraction of uncovered biliary metallic stent using percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy

In this study, we describe the successful removal of a biliary nitinol metallic stent during percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS) after lithotripsy of stones caused by obstruction of a metallic stent placed to alleviate stenosis of the choledochoduodenal anastomotic site in a case of benign biliary disease. Using serrated‐edge forceps, one third of the metallic stent was removed in piecemeal sections and then the remaining portion of the stent was removed in one piece through the percutaneous transhepatic fistula. The endoscope was not damaged because all stent materials were removed through the PTCS fistula, not the channel of the endoscope. There were no procedural complications excluding minor bleeding seen endoscopically and no residual stent wires on cholangiograms. In conclusion, this technique is a useful method for metal stent removal from patients in whom it is to extract metallic stent by peroral endoscopic treatment.     

One-step percutaneous transhepatic insertion of a balloon-expanding metallic stent for obstructive jaundice

Background and Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of one‐step percutaneous transhepatic insertion of the Express LD stent, a balloon‐expanding stainless steel stent used for the management of distal artery stenosis in the treatment of obstructive jaundice caused by various inoperable malignancies. Methods: Seventy‐one consecutive patients with unresectable malignant biliary obstruction who underwent Express LD stent placement between 2007 and 2010 at our institute were reviewed. Results: Mean stent patency was 165 ± 144 days and mean patient survival was 180 ± 156 days, while the cumulative stent patency rate and patient survival rate at 6 and 12 months were 79% and 65%, and 38% and 16%, respectively. Stents were successfully placed in all cases without any stent migration or misplacement. Stent failure occurred in 14 patients (20%), and 16 complications were observed, including 12 cholangitis (17%), two cholecysitis (3%), and two pancreatitis (3%). Y‐configuration stenting for hilar bile duct obstruction was the only independent prognostic factor for stent failure. Conclusions: One‐step percutaneous transhepatic insertion of the Express LD stent is effective and safe for the management of obstructive jaundice caused by inoperable malignancies.