URETEROILEAL ANASTOMOTIC STRICTURES: AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH WITH METALLIC STENTS

Purpose

We report our experience with the use of self-expandable metallic stents to bypass anastomotic strictures after ureteroileal urinary diversion.

Materials and Methods

We evaluated 3 men and 1 woman with invasive bladder carcinoma who underwent radical cystectomy and ileal conduit urinary diversion. Ureteroenteric anastomotic strictures developed after a mean of 16 months. Self-expandable metallic stents were successfully placed (bilaterally in 2) comprising 6 stented ureters that bypassed strictures. Mean patient age was 64 years and mean followup was 12 months.

Results

No restenosis was observed in 3 patients during followup. The stricture recurred 1 month after stent placement in the remaining patient and additional intervention was necessary, consisting of placement of a totally coaxial overlapping metal stent. No sepsis or other complication was observed. One patient died of metastatic disease 12 months after stent placement.

Conclusions

We propose the use of metal stents as an adequate, safe and effective alternative treatment for anastomotic strictures after ureteroileal diversion.     

膀胱全切原位回肠新膀胱术后输尿管肠吻合口良性狭窄的处理

目的：探讨膀胱全切原位回肠新膀胱术后输尿管肠吻合口良性狭窄的处理方法。方法：我科自2003年1月～2012年6月采用膀胱全切原位回肠新膀胱术治疗395例膀胱癌患者。术后发生输尿管肠吻合口良性狭窄10例,采用输尿管镜扩张、内镜下逆行／经皮穿刺顺行球囊扩张、内镜下狭窄段内切开、开放输尿管膀胱再植术,并留置双J管3～6个月。结果：本组10例中,1例（1处）因导丝不能通过狭窄段而改行开放手术,术后随访36个月,肾积水明显改善。其余9例（11处）采用腔内技术处理,其中3例（4处）采用输尿管镜扩张,2例（3处）采用内镜下狭窄段内切开,4例（4处）采用内镜下逆行／经皮穿刺顺行球囊扩张。术后随访9～72个月（中位25个月）。5例（7处）肾积水明显改善,2例（2处）肾积水长期随访无加重,2例（2处,狭窄段长分别为1．2cm、1．5cm）再发狭窄,遂采用开放手术,分别随访16及24个月,肾积水改善。结论：腔内技术操作简单,创伤小,可作为输尿管肠吻合口良性狭窄的首选治疗方案。开放手术仍然是治疗输尿管肠吻合口狭窄的金标准。对于狭窄段〉1cm的患者,应首先考虑开放手术。     

全覆膜自膨胀金属支架治疗胆胰管良性狭窄的现状与进展

全覆膜自膨胀金属支架（FCSEMS）治疗肝移植术后胆管吻合口狭窄和慢性胰腺炎等因素导致的胆管良性狭窄的初步结果令人鼓舞,但在FCSEMS完全取代塑料支架成为胆管良性狭窄的治疗首选之前,应充分评估支架移位、胆道感染、胰腺炎和支架无法移除等并发症的发生率.对于良性的主胰管狭窄,FCSEMS是一种有效的治疗方法,但支架移位率较高,需要更好顺应性和末端喇叭口的支架设计.理论上讲,FCSEMS会堵塞分支胰管导致胰管感染,但目前并没有这些并发症的报道.由于FCSEMS治疗主胰管狭窄的长期有效性和安全性尚不清楚,FCSEMS使用应限制在治疗复发性和有症状的胰管良性狭窄.     

Self-expanding metallic stents in the treatment of benign colorectal disease: indications and outcomes

OBJECTIVE: The use of stents for benign colorectal obstruction is considered controversial because of a lack of data and perceived high failure and complication rates. The aim of this study was to evaluate the indications and outcomes following stent placement for benign colorectal disease in a UK district general hospital and to review the published literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1997 and 2004, 11 of 90 attempted stent insertions were performed for benign colorectal disease (diverticular disease, 4; anastomotic strictures, 4; idiopathic rectal stricture, 1; rectal endometriosis, 1; caecal volvulus, 1). Complications and outcomes were analysed from a prospective database. RESULTS: Stent insertion was successful in nine patients. Early complications occurred in two patients (both with diverticular disease): one patient failed to decompress and needed a colostomy and laparotomy was performed in a second patient who developed peritonitis after five days although no stent perforation of the bowel was identified. Two patients were successfully decompressed and underwent subsequent elective surgery with full bowel preparation. Stent placement resulted in symptomatic improvement in three out of four patients with anastomotic strictures (allowing closure of defunctioning stomas) and in the one patient with an idiopathic rectal stricture. Stent migration occurred in two of these patients without recurrence of symptoms. Stent fracture occurred in one patient, who remained symptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: Self-expanding metallic stents are an effective treatment for benign colorectal obstructions, especially anastomotic strictures with long-term patency. Stents should be avoided in acute diverticular disease because of a higher incidence of complications.     

Percutaneous management of benign ureteroileal anastomotic strictures after ileal conduit urinary diversion

We report our experience with the endourological treatment of 4 patients with 5 benign ureteroileal anastomotic strictures after ileal conduit urinary diversion. The treatment was successful in 4 of the 5 renal units without restenosis with a mean follow up of 10 months. The strictures were dilated by ureteral dilators and/or balloon dilation catheters using guide wires through percutaneous nephrostomies in an antegrade fashion. A 9 or 12 Fr. percutaneous splint catheter or a 12 Fr. double pig tail catheter was placed for 3-8 weeks after a successful dilation. Two renal units underwent repeated dilations. In 1 renal unit, a guide wire was hardly passed through the stricture and the treatment was unsuccessful. No serious complications were encountered. Percutaneous endourological managements of ureteroileal anastomotic strictures seemed to be quite versatile techniques which should be tried as the initial approach in many cases.     

Systematic appraisal of the role of metallic endobiliary stents in the treatment of benign bile duct stricture

OBJECTIVE: To carry out a systematic appraisal of the current status of the use of metallic endobiliary stents in the treatment of benign biliary strictures. METHODS: A computerized search of the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases identified 37 studies providing detailed clinical course data on outcome of metallic endobiliary stent placement in 400 patients. Pooled data were examined for etiology of stricture, indications for stent placement, procedure-related complications, and outcome with reference to stent patency. RESULTS: The median (range) number of patients per report was 8 (2-54) with a median recruitment period of 44 (9-126) months. The most frequent indications were postoperative biliary strictures in 123 (31%), stenosed biliary-enteric anastomoses in 79 (20%), and biliary strictures following liver transplantation in 88 (22%). During a median follow up of 31 (1-111) months, 139 (35%) stents occluded, and there are little patency data beyond 2 years after deployment, with 99 (25%) known to be patent at 3 years from stent placement. CONCLUSIONS: These pooled data on 400 patients constitute the largest collective report to date on the use of metallic endobiliary stents for benign biliary strictures. The results show a critical lack of data on long-term patency such that at the present time, metallic endobiliary stents should not be used for benign stricture in those patients with a predicted life expectancy greater than 2 years.     

Removal of metallic stent by using polyflex stent in esophago-colic anastomotic stricture

Benign strictures or anastomoses of the esophagus can be treated by stents. However, short-term and long-term complications, including migration and hyperplastic tissue reaction can occur. Bowel reconstruction by interposition has been performed after esophagectomy. Stricture of cervical anastomosis is an important late complication. Self-expandable metallic stents have been used to improve this problem. To remove the obstructed metallic stent, self-expandable covered plastic stents can be used. Herein we present the removal technique of tissue-embedded self-expandable metallic stents by using self-expandable covered plastic stents after colon interposition in a case of benign cervical anastomosis of the esophagus due to caustic stricture.     

Drainage and antireflux characteristics of a biodegradable self-reinforced, self-expanding X-ray-positive poly-L,D-lactide spiral partial ureteral stent: an experimental study

PURPOSE: To evaluate the drainage and antireflux characteristics of a new self-expandable self-reinforced poly-L,D-lactide partial ureteral stent (SR-PLA 96) in an experimental model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve dogs were used as experimental animals. A low-midline laparotomy and cystotomy were performed on all animals. In group A (six animals), 50-mm long SR-PLA 96 ureteral stents with a double-helical spiral design were inserted into both ureters, leaving the lower ends 2 cm above the ureterovesical junction. In group B (six animals), both ureters were stented with traditional pigtail stents (C-Flex) Double-J; Cook Urological), which were removed 8 weeks after surgery. Renal function and ureteral patency were evaluated by dynamic kidney imaging and urography examinations at 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively. The degrees of vesicoureteral reflux at two levels of the ureters and at the level of the renal pelvis were evaluated by nuclear voiding cystograms at 6 weeks. RESULTS: The partial SR-PLA 96 stent design showed more favorable antireflux properties that the Double-J stent design. The degree of vesicoureteral reflux, reflected in an increase of nuclear enhancement at 6 weeks, was lower in the distal (7.9% +/- 14.7% v 63.2% +/- 17.3%; P < 0.05) and middle (6.1% +/- 8.1% v. 45.5% +/- 19.5%; P = 0.15) levels of the ureters as well as at the level of the renal pelvis (-3.4% +/- 3.6% v 6.2% +/- 3.9%; P = 0.65) than in the Double-J-stented ureters. No significant differences in renal function or ureteral patency were observed at 12 weeks after the Double-J stents had been removed and the SR-PLA 96 stents had fragmented. CONCLUSION: A self-expandable, self-reinforced SR-PLA 96 partial ureteral stent showed more favorable antireflux properties than a Double-J stent.     

The role of endoscopic stents in the management of chronic anastomotic and staple line leaks and chronic strictures after bariatric surgery

BackgroundThe use of endoluminal stents has been proposed for the management of fistulas and anastomotic strictures after bariatric surgery. The objective of our study was to determine the success of endoscopically placed, self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) in bariatric patients specifically with either chronic persistent anastomotic or staple line leaks/fistulas or chronic, persistent anastomotic strictures.MethodsWe treated 21 patients including 5 with chronic staple line leaks/fistulas (4 from the gastric sleeve after biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch [BPD/DS] and 1 after removal of an eroding laparoscopic adjustable gastric band) and 16 with chronic anastomotic strictures (15 at the gastrojejunostomy after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and 1 at the duodenoileal anastomosis after BPD/DS). Patients with early leaks or anastomotic strictures were excluded.ResultsAll but one of these patients had been referred to our institution after chronic treatment elsewhere was unsuccessful with prior stent placement for fistulas or multiple endoscopic dilations for strictures. Their bariatric operations had been performed a mean of 386 days beforehand. Stent placement was performed successfully in all patients without complications but was successful in only 4 of 21 patients (19%)—2 with chronic fistulas and 2 with chronic anastomotic strictures. Stent migration occurred in 10 patients (47%); the migrated stents were removed/replaced endoscopically in 7 patients but required elective operative removal in 3 with concomitant correction of the leak, fistula, or anastomotic stricture; none were operated emergently.ConclusionOnly 4 of 21 patients with a chronic persistent leak or anastomotic stricture were treated definitively using a SEMS. Although endoluminal stents may not lead to resolution of a chronic leak or stricture, SEMS may suppress ongoing sepsis and allow patients to undergo nutritional resuscitation orally before operative correction.     

Long-term outcomes of endoscopic management for biliary strictures after living donor liver transplantation with duct-to-duct reconstruction

Biliary strictures after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) with duct-to-duct (D-D) reconstruction are associated with postoperative morbidity and mortality. The aims of this study were to evaluate the long-term outcomes of endoscopic deployment of plastic stents, and to investigate factors associated with the stent deployment failure. Between April 2001 and May 2007, 96 patients received LDLT with D-D reconstruction at Okayama University Hospital. Among them, 41 patients (43%) had anastomotic biliary strictures, and all were referred first for endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC). When deployment was unsuccessful, a percutaneous transhepatic procedure was employed. Successful stent deployment was achieved in 35 out of total 41 patients (85%) by both procedures. Among the 35 patients, 28 had their stents removed as a result of strictures resolution. Eight patients underwent ERC and repeated stent deployment as a result of recurrence of the strictures. Finally, 21 out of 41 (51%) patients with biliary stricture were completely treated by endoscopic therapy during the observation period (median 873 days: range 77–2060). By multivariate analysis, biliary leakage was associated with stent deployment failure. Endoscopic deployment of plastic stents is a first-line therapy for patients with biliary stricture after LDLT.     

Endourological management of ureteral strictures

Endourological management was employed in five cases with ureteral strictures. The cause of stricture included ureteroileal anastomoses in two cases, open pyeloplasty in one, radical hysterectomy in one and retroperitoneal fibrosis in one. In four cases, strictures were dilated using a balloon dilation catheter (diameter 4 to 8 mm), followed by placement of ureteral stent (6 to 8.3 Fr), for from 8 days to 43 days. In one case, graduated flexible dilator was passed until a 10 Fr opening was obtained. A 6 Fr ureteral stent was placed for 42 days. Of the 5 strictures 3 were dilated successfully as judged by excretory urogram. Followup ranged from 7 months to 19 months. Unsuccessful dilation occurred in 2 cases. In one case, subsequent exploratory operation revealed retroperitoneal fibrosis. In another case, subsequent CT scan disclosed the metastasis of rectal cancer obstructing the site of ureteroileal anastomosis. Endourological procedure is valuable in the treatment of benign post-operative ureteral stricture.     

Treatment of benign ureterointestinal anastomotic strictures with permanent ureteral Wallstent after Camey and Wallace urinary diversion: long-term follow-up

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Ureterointestinal anastomotic stricture follows urinary diversion in 4% to 8% of patients and may lead to a progressive deterioration of renal function. There are problems with all current management techniques: surgical revision, endourologic incision, nephrostomy drainage, external ureteral stents, and dilation with a high-pressure angioplasty balloon. The authors present their long-term results with permanent ureteral Wallstents for the treatment of benign ureterointestinal stricture. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eight patients with 10 strictures were treated by placement of self-expanding permanent indwelling stents via percutaneous nephrostomy between September 1993 and January 1998. The mean age of the group was 59.2 years. Development of strictures occurred a mean of 20.9 months after urinary diversion. There were seven complete and three partial strictures. Of 49 patients treated by the Camey procedure, 7 patients (14%) developed 9 (18%) strictures. Of 28 patients having the Wallace procedure, 1 patient (3.5%) developed one stricture. After recanalization of the distal ureter by a Terumo guidewire and dilation with a high-pressure angioplasty balloon, a Wallstent was placed across the stricture via a percutaneous approach. RESULTS: The endourologic placement of the Wallstent was well tolerated by all patients. The hospital stay averaged 2 days. Seven patients with nine strictures after the Camey procedure are doing well with a follow-up of 7 to 68 months (mean 22.4 months). One major complication was observed in one patient necessitating an additional procedure (lithotripsy) because of stone formation at the lower part of the stent extending into the neobladder in order to maintain patency after 68 months. The other patient, who had a Wallace procedure, is doing well 1 year 8 months afterward. CONCLUSION: An endourologic ureteral Wallstent approach to ureterointestinal stricture is a successful alternative, providing satisfactory management of the problem in most patients. No complication such as stent migration, hematuria, pain, or recurrent stricture was observed.     

Polyflex self-expanding,removable plastic stents: assessment of treatment efficacy and safety in a variety of benign and malignant conditions of the esophagus

Background Historically, esophageal fistulas, perforations, and benign and malignant strictures have been managed surgically or with the placement of permanent endoprostheses or metallic stents. Recently, a removable, self-expanding, plastic stent has become available. The authors investigated the use of this new stent at their institution. Methods The study reviewed all the patients who received a Polyflex stent for an esophageal indication at the authors’ institution between January 2004 and October 2006. Duration of placement, complications, and treatment efficacy were recorded. Results A total of 37 stents were placed in 30 patients (14 women and 16 men) with a mean age of 68 years (range, 28–92 years). Stent placement included 7 for fistulas, 3 for perforations, 1 for an anastomotic leak, 7 for malignant strictures, and 19 for benign strictures (8 anastomotic, 1 caustic, 5 reflux, 2 radiation, and 2 autoimmune esophagitis strictures, and 1 post-Nissen gas bloat stricture). The mean follow-up period was 6 months. Stent deployment was successful for all the patients, and no complications resulted from stent placement or removal. Nine stents migrated spontaneously. Three of three perforations and three of five fistulas sealed. Only one stent was removed because of patient discomfort. One patient with a radiation stricture experienced tracheoesophageal fistulas secondary to pressure necrosis. Of 20 patients with stricture, 18 experienced improvement in their dysphagia. Conclusion Self-expanding, removable plastic stents are easily and safely placed and removed from the esophagus. This has facilitated their use in the authors’ institution for an increasing number of esophageal conditions. Further studies to help define their ultimate role in benign and malignant esophageal pathology are warranted.     

经皮经肝胆道支架术在肝移植术后胆管狭窄中的应用

目的 评价经皮经肝胆道支架术治疗肝移植术后胆管狭窄的疗效.方法 肝移植术后胆管狭窄患者23例,其中吻合口狭窄7例,肝门区狭窄6例,多发性狭窄10例.确诊后均行经皮经肝胆道支架术.术前均给予经皮经肝胆管引流术(percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage,PTBD),同时对狭窄部位...     

Palliative treatment of oesophageal carcinoma--efficacy of plastic versus self-expandable stents.

OBJECTIVES: A prospective randomised study of patients with irresectable oesophageal carcinoma treated with self-expandable covered metal Wallstent and plastic Procter Livingstone tubes was performed. The purpose was to compare the efficacy, cost effectiveness, ease of implantation, long-term patency and complications of the two different stents. METHODS: Data recorded included dysphagia score (0-4) the day before and after stent placement, location and length of stricture, procedural time and complications, and stent patency at 1 and 3 months' follow-up. A comparative costing of materials, theatre and anaesthetic time and hospital stay was undertaken. RESULTS: Forty patients were studied over 12 months (20 in each group). Strictures were located most commonly in the middle third of the oesophagus (75%), followed by the upper third (12.5%) and lower third (12.5%). Mean stricture length was 6 cm (2-12 cm); 10 patients (25%) had strictures 8 cm or longer. Five patients had tracheo-oesophageal fistulas (3 Wallstent; 2 Procter Livingstone tube). There was effective fistula sealing in all 3 Wallstent patients, and non-sealing in 1 of the Procter Livingstone patients. The mean pre-operative dysphagia score in both groups was 3, and immediately postoperatively the score was 0 in the Wallstent group and 2 in the plastic tube group. Initial stent placement was satisfactory in all Wallstent patients, with 2 patients requiring 2 stents each for adequate tumour coverage, and in 15 patients (75%) having plastic stents. Immediate complications were chest pain in 2 patients with Wallstents and oesophageal perforation in 2 patients (10%) with plastic stents. Wallstent patency at 1 and 3 months was 90% and 88%, respectively, and plastic stent patency was 66% and 50%. Four patients (10%), 2 in each group, died during the study from massive tumour load or metastatic disease. Comparative costing of the Wallstent versus the plastic tube stent was R4 123 versus R2 146 or a factor of 1.9. CONCLUSION: Palliation with the Wallstent is effective, with excellent 1- and 3-month patency. The Wallstent is superior to the conventional plastic stent in terms of ease of implantation, better long-term patency and fewer complications. It is particularly useful for the treatment of patients with fistulas and long strictures. Accurate placement is critical in order to prevent stent migration and tumour overgrowth. However, it costs almost twice as much to implant the Wallstent as it does to implant the plastic tube.     

Are expandable metallic stents better than conventional methods for treating difficult intrahepatic biliary strictures with recurrent hepatolithiasis?

BACKGROUND: Conventional methods for treating patients with recurrent hepatolithiasis associated with complicated intrahepatic biliary strictures include balloon dilatation of the intrahepatic biliary strictures, lithotripsy, and the clearance of difficult stones as completely as possible, with the placement of an external-internal stent for at least 6 months. After these modalities are used, symptomatic refractory strictures remain. Recently we used internal Gianturco-Rosch metallic Z stents to treat patients who had refractory strictures. OBJECTIVE: To compare therapeutic results and complications of an internal expandable metallic Z stent with those of repeated external-internal stent placement. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: A referral center. PATIENTS: From January 1992 to December 1996, 18 patients with recurrent hepatolithiasis and complicated intrahepatic biliary strictures underwent percutaneous dilatation of stricture and transhepatic percutaneous cholangioscopic lithotomy for recurrent stones. After their stones were completely cleared, their biliary strictures failed to dilate satisfactorily. The patients were randomly enrolled into 2 groups: group A (7 patients), who received an expandable metallic Z stent, and group B (11 patients), who had repeated placement of external-internal stents. INTERVENTIONS: Percutaneous stricture dilatation, electrohydraulic lithotripsy, balloon dilatation, percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic lithotomy, and biliary stenting by a Silastic external-internal catheter or a modified Gianturco-Rosch expandable metallic Z stent (for an internal stent). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The number of procedures, days in hospital, procedure-related complications, incidents of stone recurrence and recurrence of cholangitis, readmissions to the hospital, treatment sessions required, and mortality rate. Patients' limitations in ordinary activities were also compared. RESULTS: The follow-up period ranged from 28 to 60 (40.7+/-12.7 [mean +/- SD]) months in group A and from 28 to 49 (36.0+/-7.2) months in group B. Fewer group A patients (3 [43%]) than group B patients (8 [73%]) tended to have recurrent cholangitis and to require readmission to the hospital, but this was not statistically significant (P = .33). When their cumulative probability of a first episode of cholangitis during follow-up was compared, however, it was significantly lower in patients treated with a metallic stent (P = .04). Compared with group B patients, group A patients had less frequent recurrence of stones (0% vs 64%; P = .01), fewer procedures for the clearance of biliary stones or sludge (1.7+/-2.2 vs 6.4+/-4.3; P = .03), and shorter hospital stays (8.0+/-11.5 days vs 17.0+/-12.0 days; P = .07). No patients in group A experienced limitation in ordinary activities, whereas 7 patients in group B did (P<.02). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the repeated placement of external-internal stents, the use of a metallic internal stent effectively decreases stone recurrence, simplifies further procedures, and is more convenient. Its use is suggested as an alternative choice in the treatment of recurrent hepatolithiasis with refractory intrahepatic biliary strictures.     

Self-expanding metal stent for tracheobronchial strictures.

To determine the role of expandable metal stent (Wallstent) in treating tracheobronchial strictures, 12 patients with recurrent symptoms of airway obstruction due to either benign or malignant strictures were studied. The seven benign strictures were anastomotic stricture following sleeve resection (2) and single lung transplant (1), tracheal amyloidosis (1), idiopathic chondritis (2), and post-tracheostomy stricture (1). The five malignant strictures were due to recurrent adenoid cystic carcinoma of trachea (1), large-cell carcinoma of lung (1), recurrent laryngeal squamous carcinoma (1), squamous carcinoma of the trachea (1), and malignant melanoma (1). The placement of stents was performed under rigid bronchoscopic guidance with no complications. All patients with benign strictures derived subjective and functional improvement with stenting. No evidence of restenosis within the stented segment in six of the seven benign strictures was found within up to 24 months. Repeated diathermy resection was required in the patient with recurrent amyloidosis through the distal end of the stent. Among the malignant strictures, symptomatic relief was achieved in four of the five patients. One metal stent migrated proximally and was replaced by a Montgomery T tube. One patient with relief of stridor died at 4 months due to carcinomatosis. Tumour ingrowth through the metal stent remains problematic in two patients. However, the incidence of palliative interventions required has markedly reduced after stenting.     

Management of ureterointestinal anastomotic strictures: comparison of open surgical and endourological repair

The established treatment for ureterointestinal anastomotic strictures is open surgical revision. In an effort to evaluate the efficacy of endourological surgery for this problem, we compared 7 patients (9 strictures) who underwent open revision to 6 patients (7 strictures) who underwent endoscopic incision and balloon dilation of the stricture. The success rate (that is patent ureter and no stent) was 89 per cent for the open revision group and 71 per cent (5 of 7) for the endoscopic group. All open revisions required use of general anesthesia, while 3 of the endoscopic procedures were performed with the patient under assisted local anesthesia. The endoscopic group had markedly shorter hospitalization, decreased blood loss, diminished patient discomfort and no postoperative complications. While the endoscopic procedure for ureteroileal anastomotic strictures is less successful than open revision, the lower morbidity, decreased cost and shorter hospital stay associated with the endourological approach favor its use over open revision. For elderly patients who fail initial endoscopic revision and for patients with metastatic transitional cell cancer, placement of an indwelling stent is a reasonable alternative. Given these guidelines, less than 30 per cent of the patients who suffer a ureteroileal anastomotic stricture will require open surgical revision.     

Ureteral Obstruction: Is the Full Metallic Double-Pigtail Stent the Way to Go?

Background

The Resonance metallic ureteral stent (Cook Medical, Bloomington, Indiana, USA) has been introduced for the management of extrinsic-etiology ureteral obstruction for time periods up to 12 mo.

Objective

The current study aims to determine short- and medium-term effectiveness of the Resonance stent in malignant and benign ureteral obstruction.

Design, setting, and participants

In total, 50 patients with extrinsic malignant obstruction (n = 25), benign ureteral obstruction (n = 18), and previously obstructed mesh metal stents (n = 7) were prospectively evaluated.

Intervention

All patients were treated by Resonance stent insertion. Twenty stents were inserted in antegrade fashion, and the remaining stents were inserted in a retrograde approach. No patient dropped out of the study. The follow-up evaluation included biochemical and imaging modalities.

Measurements

We evaluated the technical success rate, stricture patency rate, complications, and the presence and type of encrustation.

Results and limitations

The technical success rate of transversal and stenting of the strictures was 100%. In 19 patients, balloon dilatation was performed prior to stenting. The mean follow-up period was 8.5 mo. The stricture patency rate in patients with extrinsic malignant ureteral obstruction was 100% and in patients with benign ureteral obstruction 44%. Failure of Resonance stents in all cases of obstructed metal stents was observed shortly after the procedure (2–12 d). In nine cases, stent exchange was demanding. Encrustation was present in 12 out of 54 stents.

Conclusions

The Resonance stent provides safe and sufficient management of malignant extrinsic ureteral obstruction. Resonance stent use in benign disease needs further evaluation, considering the untoward results of the present study.     

Prospective evaluation of a new self-expanding plastic stent for inoperable esophageal strictures

BACKGROUND: High stent cost is considered the major drawback of self-expanding metal stents for dysphagia palliation in patients with inoperable esophageal strictures. We report our experience with a self-expanding plastic (Polyflex) stent, the cost of which is half that of the metal stents. METHODS: Between September 1999 and April 2001, 16 dysphagic patients (15 men; mean age, 69.4 +/- 14.5 years; range, 49-100 years; mean dysphagia score, 3.31 +/- 0.6) with esophageal strictures who underwent Polyflex stent placement (insertion device diameter, 12-14 mm; postexpansion inner stent diameter, 16-21 mm; stent length, 9, 12, and 15 cm) were studied prospectively. The strictures were caused by postsurgical recurrence of gastric/esophageal cancer at the anastomotic site in five patients, primary esophageal cancer in four patients, esophagocardia junction cancer in four patients, metastatic mediastinal lymph nodes from a primary lung cancer invading the esophagus in 1 patient, and benign peptic stricture in two elderly patients. All the patients were prospectively followed until death. RESULTS: Stent insertion was technically successful in 12 patients (75%). Stent placement failed in four patients (25%) because of failure to pass the delivery catheter across the stricture in three patients and failure of the stent to open in one patient. Early and late stent migration occurred in two patients and 1 patient, respectively. Tumor overgrowth occurred in 1 patient. The mean dysphagia score 7 days after stent placement was 1.1 +/- 0.9. Mean survival was 100.6 +/- 71.2 days (range, 8-225 days). CONCLUSION: Self-expanding Polyflex stents are safe and effective for inoperable esophageal strictures and have an acceptable technical success rate. Further experience, better selection criteria, and design improvements should improve results.