Juxtaposed “kissing” stents as a technique to preserve both limbs of a bifurcating renal artery

Percutaneous revascularization with balloon expandable stent placement and/or balloon angioplasty has been proven to be an effective alternative for renal artery bypass surgery for management of renal artery stenosis. Endovascular stent deployment has been proven to be superior to balloon angioplasty alone, especially for ostial lesions in terms of maintaining long-term patency. Here we describe a case report for deployment of two Palmaz stents with simultaneous utilization of brachial and femoral routes. Technical aspects for this procedure, especially adaptation of coronary guide wire systems in management of renal artery stenosis were discussed. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Surgical and endovascular treatment of stenosis of the innominate artery.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerotic lesions of the brachiocepfialic trunk are relatively rare compared with other types of vascular diseases. Median sternotomy with direct endothoracic repair is recommended because of good early and long-term results. Nevertheless, this procedure is not without risks such as hemorrhaging, embolism, aortic dissection, infection or death. METHODS: This report therefore, describes our experience in intraoperative balloon angioplasty and additional stent placement of isolated stenosis of the brachiocephalic trunk with cerebral protection ensured by common carotid artery clamping. Through an anterolateral cervical approach the right common carotid artery was surgically exposed. After dilating the brachiocephalic trunk and positioning the stent, the vessel was repaired with a continuous suture. RESULTS: In all patients the dilation of the stenosis of the brachiocephalic trunk and the stent placement were successful without any side-effects. No distal embolism with neurologic events, innominate artery dissection, rupture, occlusion or neck hematoma occurred. All patients were discharged three days after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: This technique offers a safe, effective approach to stenoses of innominate arteries because it is less invasive than conventional transthoracic or extrathoracic surgery and offers excellent early and mid-term results. We believe that this technique is a safe and effective alternative to conventional surgery.     

Comprehensive management of branch pulmonary artery stenosis

Branch pulmonary artery stenosis may occur as an isolated finding or in conjunction with other cardiac malformations; it may be congenital or acquired postoperatively. Transcatheter management with balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) and/or endovascular stenting is generally considered the procedure of choice for most patients. With the introduction of high-pressure balloons, the results of BPA have improved significantly (75%). Stent implantation has increased the success rate to over 90%. However, BPA continues to be the initial procedure of choice for distal stenoses, or those associated with branching points, and in small children or infants. Stent implantation is preferred over BPA for central or proximal stenoses, and those due to kinking or tenting, external compression, intimal flaps, failed balloon dilation, and early postoperative procedures. Certain lesions, such as supravalvar pulmonary stenosis, or stenosis at the branch pulmonary arteries bifurcation, are better dealt with at surgery. High-risk situations for the development of postoperative pulmonary artery (PA) stenosis exist in small infants with hypoplastic branch PAs after a conotruncal procedure, after duct ligation, after shunt insertion, after PA band placement, or after pulmonary arteriotomies or anastomoses of any kind. A combined collaborative transcatheter and surgical approach is essential for many patients with PA stenosis, particularly in complex forms of tetralogy of Fallot.     

Balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty: a review

Balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty has been used successfully over the last few years for the relief of moderate to severe valvar pulmonic stenosis in neonates, infants, children, and adults. Both immediate and intermediate term follow-up results have been well documented by cardiac catheterization studies. Electrocardiographic and echo-Doppler evaluation at follow-up is reflective of the results and may avoid the need for recatheterization. The results of balloon valvuloplasty are either comparable to or better than those reported with surgical valvuloplasty. The causes of restenosis have been identified, and appropriate modifications in the technique, particularly the recommended use of a balloon/annulus ratio of 1.2 to 1.5, should give better results than previously documented. Complications of the procedure have been minimal. Further refinement of the catheters and technique may reduce the complication rate even further. The indications for balloon valvuloplasty have not been clearly defined but should probably be similar to those used for surgical valvotomy; only patients with moderate to severe valvar pulmonic stenosis are candidates for balloon valvuloplasty. Previous surgery and pulmonary valve dysplasia are not contraindications for balloon valvuloplasty. The procedure is also applicable to pulmonary stenosis associated with other complex cardiac defects and stenosis of bioprosthetic valves in pulmonary position. Miniaturatization of balloon/catheter systems to further reduce the complication rate and documentation of favorable result at 5- to 10-year follow-up are necessary.     

A comparison of short- and long-term outcomes for balloon angioplasty and coronary stent placement

OBJECTIVES: We sought to compare patient outcomes for coronary stent placement and balloon angioplasty. BACKGROUND: Since 1994, the number of patients treated only with balloon angioplasty has decreased nationally, whereas the use of coronary stents as an alternative has grown tremendously. The objectives of this study were to compare short- and long-term survival and subsequent revascularization rates for patients undergoing single-vessel balloon angioplasty and coronary stent placement. METHODS: New York's Coronary Angioplasty Registry was used to identify New York patients undergoing either balloon angioplasty or stent placement between July 1, 1994, and December 31, 1996. Statistical models were used to compare risk-adjusted short- and long-term survival and subsequent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). RESULTS: No significant differences were found in adjusted in-patient mortality, but patients who had balloon angioplasty were, on average, 1.36 times more likely to have died at any time during the two-year period after the index procedure (p = 0.003). The adjusted in-patient CABG rate was significantly higher for balloon angioplasty (2.72% vs. 1.66%, p<0.0001), and the adjusted two-year CABG rate was also significantly higher for balloon angioplasty (10.81% vs. 7.25%, p<0.001). The adjusted two-year rate for subsequent PCIs was also significantly higher for balloon angioplasty (19.6% vs. 14.3%, p<0.0001). Although measures were taken to eliminate or minimize the effect of selection bias, it should be noted that patients with stents were healthier at hospital admission than patients who had balloon angioplasty. CONCLUSIONS: Stent placement is associated with significantly lower risk-adjusted long-term mortality, CABG and subsequent PCI rates, as compared with balloon angioplasty.     

Therapeutic Endoscopic Balloon Dilatation of the Extrahepatic Biliary Ducts

Nine patients with extrahepatic obstructive biliary or pancreatic disease underwent therapeutic endoscopic balloon dilatation over a 24-month period. There were 10 obstructing lesions including common bile duct strictures (six patients), bilioenteric anastomotic strictures (two patients), ampullary stenosis (one patient) and an ampullary neoplasm (one patient). Endoscopic balloon dilatation was performed to relieve cholestasis (five patients), as treatment for cholangitis (one patient), as therapy for acute pancreatitis (one patient), to facilitate delivery of common bile duct stones (one patient), and to allow placement of a biliary endoprosthesis (one patient). The procedure was successful in seven of 12 attempts (58%) and was associated with one major complication (8.0%). Endoscopic balloon dilatation can be an effective palliative therapeutic procedure, with a wide spectrum of use, which may eliminate the need for surgery.     

Restenosis after placement of Palmaz-Schatz stents in native coronary arteries. Initial results of a multicenter experience.

BACKGROUND. Several metallic intracoronary stents are currently undergoing preliminary evaluation to ascertain potential benefit as means to reduce the 30-40% incidence of restenosis after balloon angioplasty. METHODS AND RESULTS. To determine the incidence and correlates of restenosis after placement of Palmaz-Schatz stents in native coronary arteries in the first group of patients selected for this procedure, clinical and quantitative angiographic data from 206 consecutive patients (221 stenoses) with successful stent placement (diameter stenosis < 50%) were analyzed. Six patients (2.9%) had thrombosis-mediated stent closure within 1 month after stent placement and were excluded from long-term angiographic follow-up. One hundred eighty-one (91%) of the remaining 200 patients had angiography at 5.8 +/- 2.1 months. Patients with and without follow-up did not differ in any baseline characteristic; in particular, history of restenosis at the site stented (73% versus 65%), placement of multiple overlapping stents (17% versus 20%), and mean poststent diameter stenosis (16 +/- 12% versus 14 +/- 12%). The overall incidence of restenosis (diameter stenosis > or = 50% at follow-up) in this group at high risk for restenosis was 36% (95% confidence interval, 29-43%) on a per-stenosis basis. The incidence of restenosis when a single stent was placed was 30% (95% confidence interval, 23-37%). Risk was dependent upon a history of restenosis (present versus absent 36% versus 16%, p = 0.02) and upon whether or not a poststent stenosis < or = 0% was achieved (6% versus 33%, p = 0.02). When multiple overlapping stents were placed, restenosis occurred at 64% of sites, and placement of multiple stents was discouraged during the later phases of this study as these results became apparent. CONCLUSIONS. Although multiple stents appear to yield a poor long-term result, placement of single stents may offer a benefit compared with standard coronary angioplasty, particularly if an excellent angiographic result can be obtained in patients without prior restenosis. Further randomized trials in such patients are needed.     

Cutting balloon to treat carotid in-stent stenosis: technical note

Carotid artery in-stent stenosis, a possible long-term complication of carotid angioplasty and stenting, is currently treated by inflation of a non-compliant angioplasty balloon. Better initial results and less recurrence of stenosis have been documented in the coronary literature with the use of the Cutting Balloon (CB, Boston Scientific Interventional Technologies, San Diego, California) for angioplasty, in comparison with traditional balloon angioplasty. We report our collective experience with the use of the CB to treat carotid in-stent stenosis in three patients. Excellent angiographic and clinical results were achieved. No complications occurred. The lesions in two patients were successfully treated with the CB alone; adjunctive stent placement was required in a third patient. Our experience demonstrates the feasibility and safety of the CB for the treatment of carotid in-stent stenosis in three patients. Due to the less traumatic nature of this balloon, its use may result in a lower occurrence of in-stent stenosis as compared to a conventional angioplasty balloon. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of the CB for carotid in-stent stenosis.     

Management of venous stenosis in living donor liver transplant recipients

AIM: To retrospectively evaluate the management and outcome of venous obstruction after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).METHODS: From February 1999 to May 2009, 1 intraoperative hepatic vein (HV) tension induced HV obstruction and 5 postoperative HV anastomotic stenosis occurred in 6 adult male LDLT recipients. Postoperative portal vein (PV) anastomotic stenosis occurred in 1 pediatric left lobe LDLT. Patients ranged in age from 9 to 56 years (median, 44 years). An air balloon was used to correct the intraoperative HV tension. Emergent surgical reoperation, transjugular HV balloon dilatation with stent placement and transfemoral venous HV balloon dilatation was performed for HV stenosis on days 3, 15, 50, 55, and 270 after LDLT, respectively. Balloon dilatation followed with stent placement via superior mesenteric vein was performed for the pediatric PV stenosis 168 d after LDLT.RESULTS: The intraoperative HV tension was corrected with an air balloon. The recipient who underwent emergent reoperation for hepatic stenosis died of hemorrhagic shock and renal failure 2 d later. HV balloon dilatation via the transjugular and transfemoral venous approach was technically successful in all patients. The patient with early-onset HV stenosis receiving transjugular balloon dilatation and stent placement on the 15th postoperative day left hospital 1 wk later and disappeared, while the patient receiving the same interventional procedures on the 50th postoperative day died of graft failure and renal failure 2 wk later. Two patients with late-onset HV stenosis receiving balloon dilatation have survived for 8 and 4 mo without recurrent stenosis and ascites, respectively. Balloon dilatation and stent placement via the superior mesenteric venous approach was technically successful in the pediatric left lobe LDLT, and this patient has survived for 9 mo without recurrent PV stenosis and ascites.CONCLUSION: Intraoperative balloon placement, emergent reoperation, proper interventional balloon dilatation and stent placement can be effective as a way to manage hepatic and PV stenosis during and after LDLT.     

Endovascular stent placement for management of total renal artery occlusion in a child.

Total renal artery occlusion is a rare complication of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. An 8-year-old boy was referred due to left renal artery stenosis after unsuccessful balloon angioplasty. Total left renal artery occlusion was diagnosed by angiography. The combination of balloon angioplasty and stent placement allowed reestablishment of perfusion and salvage of a severely threatened kidney. His blood pressure improved after the procedure and returned to normal 3 months later. The patient has remained free of symptoms for 12 months without medication.     

气囊扩张和根除幽门螺杆菌治疗幽门梗阻

目的 前瞻性观察经内镜气囊扩张和根除Hp对十二指肠球部溃疡并幽门梗阻预后的影响。方法 十二指肠球部溃疡并幽门梗阻用TTS气囊扩张,Hp感染用尿素酶、组织学和血抗体测定,根除Hp用^14C尿素呼气试验。结果 21例均成功经内镜气囊扩张而无并发症,最后气囊直径：12mm10例,15mm8例,18mm3例,4例需重复扩张者为严重狭窄。18例（85.7%)诊断为可能有Hp感染,而行1周四根除细菌治疗,平均随访13月,无复发。余3例未行根除者中2例短期内复发而行外科切除,1例服抑酸剂无复发。结论 气囊扩张和根除Hp治疗对十二指肠球部溃疡并幽门梗阻有较好的效果。     

Combined percutaneous mitral and aortic balloon valvuloplasty

Between August 1987 and November 1988, combined mitral and aortic balloon valvuloplasty was performed in 10 patients (mean age 42 +/- 9 years), all of whom had symptomatic mitral and aortic stenosis. The procedure was performed using a transarterial approach with a multiballoon catheter and an exteriorized intracardiac long guidewire circuit. The procedure could be considered successful in 9 patients where significant increases in the mean mitral (0.97 +/- 0.19 to 1.80 +/- 0.26 cm2) and aortic (0.63 +/- 0.18 to 1.15 +/- 0.32 cm2) areas were achieved. Severe mitral regurgitation that required surgery developed in 1 patient in the following 24 hours. Femoral vascular surgery was necessary in 1 patient. Mid-term follow-up was available in 8 patients for a period averaging 8 +/- 3 months. The 9 patients in whom the procedure was successful showed persistent clinical improvement in functional class, Doppler echocardiography showed 2 cases of aortic restenosis and none of mitral restenosis. Combined mitral and aortic balloon valvuloplasty could be a valid alternative treatment in selected patients with both mitral and aortic rheumatic stenosis. Further experience and long-term hemodynamic follow-up are necessary to define the role of this mode of treatment.     

Efficacy of balloon valvuloplasty in patients with critical aortic stenosis and cardiogenic shock--the role of shock duration

BACKGROUND: Because of limited long-term success, aortic balloon valvuloplasty is considered to be a palliative procedure, including patients at excessive risk for standard therapy-aortic valve replacement-that is, those in cardiogenic shock. HYPOTHESIS: The study was undertaken to evaluate the outcome of balloon valvuloplasty for critical aortic stenosis complicated by cardiogenic shock. METHODS: Over a 10-year-period, we followed 14 patients (age 74+/-11 years, range 50-91) presenting in cardiogenic shock and critical aortic stenosis, who underwent valvuloplasty, together with 19 patients with critical aortic stenosis requiring urgent major noncardiac surgery. RESULTS: In patients in shock, calculated aortic valve area could be increased successfully by at least 0.3 cm2, from 0.38+/-0.09 to 0.81+/-0.12 cm2, with an insignificant increase in cardiac index from 1.89+/-0.33 to 2.01+/-0.41 l/min * m2. In-hospital mortality was 71% (10 patients). Two patients underwent valve replacement within 16 days and survived after 1 year, as did two patients refusing surgery. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, only an interval between onset of shock symptoms and valvuloplasty of > 48 h was significantly associated with fatal outcome (p < 0.01). In those patients requiring noncardiac surgery, this was possible after valvuloplasty in 95% who survived 1 year after hospital discharge. One patient in this group died of pulmonary embolism the day after the procedure. CONCLUSION: These data support the concept of causal treatment in patients with cardiogenic shock, as well as in the setting of cardiogenic shock and critical aortic stenosis, at the earliest possible convenience.     

根除幽门螺杆菌和内镜下气囊扩张治疗幽门梗阻的远期疗效

目的:前瞻性追踪观察经内镜气囊扩张和根除幽门螺杆菌(Hp)对十二指肠球部溃疡(DU)所致幽门梗阻的远斯疗效。方法:对25例DU合并幽门梗阻者给予气囊扩张和四联方案根除Hp治疗,且随访在12月以上者进入统计分析。Hp感染用尿素酶、组织学和全血抗体测定。Hp是否根除用~(14)C尿素呼气试验。结果:25例均成功经内镜气囊扩张而无并发症。最后气囊直径:11例12mm,10例15mm,4例18mm。21例(84.0％)行根除Hp治疗均成功根除Hp,4例Hp阴性者而未行根除治疗。平均随访34月。Hp根除者梗阻复发率4.7％(1/21),显著低于未行根除治疗的复发率50.0％(2/4)(P<0.05)。结论:气囊扩张和根除Hp治疗DU导致的幽门梗阻可获得较好的远期效果。     

Long-term follow-up of stents implanted to relieve peripheral pulmonary arterial stenosis: hemodynamic findings and results of lung perfusion scanning

In recent years, percutaneous placement of stents has been used as an alternative to surgery or balloon angioplasty for the treatment of adults with peripheral pulmonary arterial stenosis. This therapy has also been proposed for children, but questions still remain about its indications in this group of patients. We describe here the results of intravascular placement of stents in a group of 29 patients, with a mean age of 12+/-7 (range 3-31) years and weighing 35+/-19 (range 11-74) kg. All were affected by postsurgical or congenital isolated pulmonary arterial stenosis, and have now been followed for 38+/-19 (range 6-65) months. The early hemodynamic results have been excellent, with a significant reduction of the pulmonary arterial systolic pressure, the systolic pressure gradient, and the ratio of systolic pressures in the pulmonary and systemic circuits, and with a significant increase of the diameter of the stented vessels in all the patients. Of the 29 patients, 24 have been recatheterized 18+/-10 months after the procedure, demonstrating the stability of the results, with a low incidence of late restenosis, this seen in only 1 patient (2%). Lung perfusion scanning, performed in 17 patients each year after the follow-up catheterization, has showed that the results are maintained at long-term follow-up (51+/-9 months).     

Safety and efficacy of extractible self-expandable metal stents in the treatment of Crohn's disease intestinal strictures: A prospective pilot study

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic management of Crohn's disease (CD) intestinal strictures with balloon dilation is effective; however, recurrences are frequent and require further dilations or surgery. The use of extractible metallic stents may be as effective as balloon dilation with fewer recurrences. The aim was to investigate in a prospective pilot study the feasibility and clinical effectiveness of the use of extractible stents in the treatment of CD intestinal strictures. METHODS: In two tertiary referral centers, quiescent CD patients except for obstructive symptoms associated with intestinal stenosis of less than 50 mm length on enterography were eligible for transitory stent placement, initially planned to be retrieved after 8 weeks, which was secondarily reduced to 4 weeks after patient 3. RESULTS: Eleven patients (six males, five females, median age 34 years [range 18-66]) were prospectively included. The sites of intestinal stenosis were an ileocolonic anastomosis, an ileosigmoidic anastomosis, and the surgically untreated terminal ileum in eight, one, and two patients, respectively. Stent placement was technically successful in 10 patients. Obstructive symptoms were relieved in 6 out of 10 patients. Two patients needed surgery related to the procedure. Six downstream migrations were observed. Only one patient could have the stent extracted as scheduled on day 28 and remains symptom-free after 73 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Even if stenting appears an effective technique in treating symptomatic CD intestinal strictures, the procedure is associated with a prohibitively high rate of spontaneous migrations and complications. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2012).     

Fiberoptic bronchoplasty. Description of a simple adjunct technique for the management of bronchial stenosis following lung transplantation.

Bronchostenosis is a well-recognized complication of pulmonary transplantation occurring at the site of the anastomosis and occasionally spreading distally from the original site of obstruction. The management of these airway complications has relied heavily on stent placement that usually involves the use of a rigid bronchoscope and is a relatively complicated procedure in the patient requiring mechanical ventilation. Another has been the use of laser therapy in selected patients. We report three cases of postoperative bronchostenosis managed with bronchoscopically directed balloon dilatation. This relatively simple procedure performed under local anesthesia using a fiberoptic bronchoscope and a modification of the Seldinger technique for balloon placement permitted accurate and atraumatic dilatation of significant posttransplant stenosis. This technique may have potential for emergency and/or palliative management of postoperative, posttraumatic, or malignant airway obstruction.     

Stenting for proximal para-anastomotic stenosis of an infrarenal aortic bypass graft

We present a case in which endovascular stenting was used for recurrent proximal para-anastomotic stenosis 11 years after aorto-bi-iliac bypass grafting for severe aorto-iliac occlusive disease. A 55-year-old woman presented with worsening bilateral hip and buttock claudication. At presentation, her resting ankle-brachial indices were 0.87 bilaterally and decreased to 0.39 on the right and 0.40 on the left with exercise. Aortography demonstrated a proximal para-anastomotic aortic graft stenosis without distal outflow obstruction, patent superficial femoral arteries, and good triple-vessel runoff bilaterally The stenosis was dilated with a 9- x 4-cm OPTA balloon angioplasty catheter. A Palmaz stent (P424, Cordis) was mounted on a 10- x 4-cm OPTA balloon catheter and deployed across the proximal stenosis. Completion arteriography confirmed adequate placement and reduction in the degree of stenosis. There was no pressure gradient across the proximal anastomosis. At our patient's 1-week follow-up visit, her resting ankle-brachial indices were both greater than 1.0 and her exercise ankle-brachial indices were 1.0 bilaterally She remained asymptomatic at 13 months. Most late sequelae of aortic graft surgery involve the distal anastomosis and are resolved surgically without complicated techniques. However, revision at the proximal anastomosis involves the aorta directly and therefore requires open abdominal dissection and aortic cross-clamping. Percutaneous aortic stenting for primary aortoiliac disease has been shown to reduce operative time, cost, and hospital stays, to improve patency and to be durable. Our clinical experience with aortic stenting for primary disease led us to consider this procedure for recurrent proximal stenosis.     

Pulmonary valvuloplasty as an alternative to surgery in the pediatric patient: implications for nursing

Recent innovations in the use of balloon catheters to dilate stenosis have made it possible to successfully perform balloon valvuloplasty (BV) on stenotic intracardiac valves. BV is fast becoming the treatment of choice for isolated valvular pulmonary stenosis (IVPS) in pediatric patients. IVPS and other obstructive lesions involving the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries occur in 25% to 30% of all persons with congenital heart disease. Current data suggest that use of BV for IVPS provides both short- and long-term hemodynamic relief and eliminates the need for open heart surgery. BV is also being used for other forms of congenital heart disease. Therefore, it is important for nurses in the pediatric setting to be aware of this technique and its implications. We review the anatomy, physiology, and clinical features of IVPS, the valvuloplasty procedure, and the nursing plan of care relevant to it.