Treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction with polyurethane stent placement: long-term results

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy of polyurethane stent placement in adults with nasolacrimal duct obstruction. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Polyurethane stents were placed under fluoroscopic guidance in 52 eyes of 49 patients (mean age, 43 years) with severe epiphora due to idiopathic nasolacrimal duct obstruction. The obstruction was complete in 44 eyes and partial in eight. Clinical success was defined as complete resolution of or great improvement in the symptoms of epiphora and the patency of the lacrimal system to irrigation. Mean follow-up was 23 months (range, 14-44 months). RESULTS: Stent placement was technically successful in 50 eyes (96%). The mean fluoroscopy screening time was 2.2 min (range, 0.2-5.8 min). Two patients were lost to follow-up. Clinical success was obtained in 33 (69%) of 48 eyes. Lacrimal symptoms developed in 23 (70%) of these 33 eyes at least once during the follow-up, but these patients responded well to topical drug treatment and lacrimal irrigation. External dacryocystorhinostomy was performed in 13 eyes after failure of the stents. At surgery, lacrimal sacs were shrunken, hyperemic, and fragile in all eyes, making it difficult to anastomose with nasal mucosa. Histologic examination showed granulation tissue and chronic inflammation of the sac epithelium. CONCLUSION: The success rate of the nasolacrimal stent decreases as follow-up lengthens. After stent treatment, lacrimal symptoms frequently develop, even if the stent remains patent, and require multiple office visits and therapy. The polyurethane stent may induce a chronic inflammatory response in the lacrimal sac, which can interfere with subsequent dacryocystorhinostomy.     

急性结肠梗阻支架置入对结直肠癌择期手术的作用

目的 探讨自膨胀金属支架(SEMS)置入对结直肠癌患者所致急性结肠梗阻择期手术的作用.方法 2001年4月-2010年12月,对急性结肠梗阻、拟择期手术的52例结直肠癌患者使用自膨胀金属支架治疗.收集患者的相关数据,包括技术和临床疗效、并发症、择期外科手术成功率及生存时间.结果 52例中除2例完全梗阻外,其余支架置...     

PTA versus Palmaz stent placement in femoropopliteal artery obstructions: a multicenter prospective randomized study

PURPOSE: To evaluate if stent placement is superior to percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in the treatment of chronic symptoms in short femoropopliteal arterial lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred fifty-four limbs in 141 patients who ranged in age from 39 to 87 years (mean age, 67 years) were randomized to PTA (n = 77) versus PTA followed by implantation of Palmaz stents (n = 77). Inclusion criteria were patients with intermittent claudication (n = 108, Society of Vascular Surgery/International Society of Cardiovascular Surgery [SVS-ISCVS] categories 1-3) or chronic critical limb ischemia (n = 46 with either ischemic rest pain [category 4] or minor tissue loss [category 5]), short stenosis or occlusion (lesion length < or = 5 cm), and at least one patent run-off vessel at angiography. Follow-up included clinical assessment, measurement of ankle/ brachial index (ABI), color duplex ultrasound, and/or angiography at 6 or 12 months. Angiographic follow-up between 12 and 36 months was available in 46 limbs (29.9%). RESULTS: In the PTA group, initial technical success was achieved in 65 of 77 limbs (84%) versus 76 of 77 (99%) limbs in the stent group (chi2 value = 0.009). Overall, major complications occurred in 3.9% (n = 6); n = 4 in the PTA group compared to n = 2 in the stent group. There was no difference between groups of treatment: hemodynamic/clinical success at 1 and 2 years in the PTA group was 72% and 65% versus 77% and 65% in the stent group (Gehan P value = .26). The cumulative 1- and 2-year angiographic primary patency rates were 63% and 53%, respectively, for both groups. The secondary 1- and 2-year angiographic patency rates were 86% and 74% in the PTA group versus 79% and 73% in the stent group (P = .5). CONCLUSION: After stent placement, the primary success rate was significantly higher than after PTA. However, 1-year angiographic and clinical/hemodynamic success was not improved.     

Acute cholecystitis caused by malignant cystic duct obstruction: treatment with metallic stent placement

We report the successful management of acute cholecystitis using cystic duct stent placement in 3 patients with inoperable malignant cystic duct obstruction (2 cholangiocarcinoma and 1 pancreatic carcinoma). All patients underwent stent placement in the bile duct, using an uncovered stent in 2 and a covered stent in 1, to relieve jaundice occurring 8-184 days (mean 120 days) before the development of acute cholecystitis. The occluded cystic duct was traversed by a microcatheter and a stent was implanted 4-17 days (mean 12 days) after cholecystostomy. Acute cholecystitis was improved after the procedure in all patients. Two patients died 3 and 10 months later, while 1 has survived without cholecystitis for 22 months after the procedure to date.     

Femoropopliteal stent placement: long-term results.

Twenty-one patients who underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) followed by attempted insertion of a self-expandable vascular endoprosthesis for femoropopliteal lesions were prospectively followed up for an average of 17.6 months with angiographic, Doppler ultrasound, and clinical examinations. Stents were placed bilaterally in one patient. Of the 22 lesions, 18 were total occlusions and four, stenoses. Stent placement was successful in 21 of 22 lesions. Nine occlusions occurred: four in the first 30 days and five 1-5 months after PTA. Three patients developed intrastent intimal hyperplasia that necessitated an additional percutaneous procedure. At 12 months, the patency rate without other interventions (the primary patency rate) was 49%. In patients who underwent secondary intervention (fibrinolysis, atherectomy, or PTA), the secondary patency rate was 67%, which fell to 56% after 18 months. At the end of the study, the overall rate of reocclusion was 43%. It is concluded that use of the self-expandable vascular endoprosthesis in the femoropopliteal region likely does not decrease the reocclusion rate after PTA alone. Its use is indicated for treatment of acute closures after femoropopliteal PTA.     

TIPS with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent: results of an Italian multicenter study

OBJECTIVE: Our objective is to describe the results of a multicenter prospective trial on the safety and efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) using the Viatorr stent-graft. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: From 2001 to 2003, 114 patients (75 men and 39 women; mean age, 59.3 years) with portal hypertension underwent TIPS with the Viatorr stent-graft. Indications for treatment were variceal bleeding (n = 49, 43.0%), refractory ascites (n = 52, 45.6%), hypertensive gastropathy (n = 10, 8.8%), Budd-Chiari syndrome (n = 1, 0.9%), and hepatorenal syndrome (n = 2, 1.7%). Eight patients (7.0%) had Child-Pugh class A cirrhosis; 60 (52.6%), Child-Pugh class B; and 46 (40.4%), Child-Pugh class C. Patients were monitored by color Doppler sonography and phlebography. RESULTS: The procedure was successful in 113 (99.1%) of 114 patients; in one patient, creation of the track was not feasible. The mean portosystemic pressure gradient decreased from 21.8 to 8.7 mm Hg. Three minor immediate complications (2.6%) occurred (two cases of self-limiting hemoperitoneum and one extrahepatic portal puncture requiring covered stenting). At a mean follow-up of 11.9 months, the overall mortality rate was 31.0% (35/113), with a 30-day mortality rate of 8.8% (10/113). Mortality was significantly higher in patients in Child-Pugh class C with refractory ascites and with post-procedural encephalopathy. Cumulative primary patency rates were 91.9%, 79.9%, and 75.9% at 6, 12, and 24 months' follow-up, respectively. Restenosis occurred in 15 patients (13.3%) within the stent (n = 8, 53.3%) or at the ends of the portal (n = 1, 6.7%) or hepatic (n = 6, 40%) veins and was solved by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (n = 11), stenting (n = 3), or parallel TIPS (n = 1). The secondary patency rate was 98.2%. Post-procedural encephalopathy occurred in 27 patients (23.9%). CONCLUSION: The Viatorr stent-graft is safe and effective in TIPS creation, with high primary patency rates. Covering the entire track up to the inferior vena cava can increase patency.     

Nasolacrimal polyurethane stent placement for epiphora: technical long-term results

PURPOSE: To assess technical problems related to implantation of a polyurethane stent to treat obstructive epiphora, and to assess the long-term patency of the nasolacrimal system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fluoroscopically guided placement of a polyurethane nasolacrimal stent was performed in 70 obstructed lacrimal systems of 62 patients with grade 3-4 obstructive epiphora. Follow-up was conducted for 1-20 months (average, 11.3 months). The obstruction was at the lacrimal sac in six systems, at the junction between the lacrimal sac and the nasolacrimal duct in 60 systems, and at the nasolacrimal duct in four systems. The cause of the obstruction was idiopathic in all cases but was probably residual to dacryocystitis. RESULTS: Of these 70 procedures, stent placement was technically successful in 61 systems (87%). On long-term follow-up, 41 (67.2%) stents remained in place, with resolution or clinical improvement, and 18 (29.5%) stents were removed (because of occlusion in 17 systems), with stent malpositioning in the duct in six cases. There were seven cases of malpositioning in all. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate patency, compare patency in properly positioned stents and malpositioned stents, and establish the relationship between malpositioning and the need for irrigation to maintain stent patency. Of the total 70 stents originally placed, 41 (58.6%) were still in place and functional at long-term follow-up. At 1 year, 73% of properly positioned stents remained patent versus 0% of improperly positioned stents. Median stent patency in the former group was 20 months and was 1 month in the latter group (P = .00002). Eleven percent of properly positioned stents required irrigation versus 57% of incorrectly positioned stents (P = .01). CONCLUSION: After follow-up for 1 year, recurrence of epiphora brought on by stent obstruction was 28%. Early stent blockage and the need for periodic irrigation may be indicative of malpositioning of the stent.     

胃流出道恶性梗阻的金属支架置入治疗

目的探讨金属支架治疗胃流出道恶性梗阻的操作技术及其临床疗效。方法12例胃流出道恶性梗阻患者中,胃恶性淋巴瘤1例,胰体癌术后浸润胃肠吻合口1例,胃窦癌6例,胰头癌4例。在X线电视监视下经口置入国产镍钛合金网状裸支架。除4例体质虚弱外,余8例均接受动脉插管化疗或全身化疗。结果12例患者共放置金属支架14枚,其中,2例放置2枚支架。10例放置1次成功,2例放置2次成功。所有病例梗阻症状均明显缓解,并逐渐能进半固体软食,生活质量明显提高。随访2～18个月,2例出现支架梗阻后再次置入支架,1例胆道梗阻行胆道外引流术。未发生出血、穿孔、支架移位等严重并发症。结论金属支架是胃流出道恶性梗阻安全有效的治疗方法,可迅速缓解症状,改善患者体质,提高患者的生活质量,结合化疗有望延长患者的生存期。     

Percutaneous jejunostomy and stent placement for treatment of malignant Roux-en-Y obstruction: a case report

Nineteen months after a Whipple procedure for pancreatic carcinoma, a 79-year-old woman developed recurrent tumoral strictures of the bile ducts and afferent Roux-en-Y limb with resultant jaundice, cholangitis, and liver abscess. Transhepatic abscess and biliary drainages were performed first. Afferent loop obstruction was too far from biliary anastomosis to be crossed via the transhepatic route. Percutaneous jejunostomy and stenting were performed to relieve the malignant afferent loop syndrome. After initial relief of symptoms, jaundice recurred in relation to peritoneal carcinomatosis progression and was treated with percutaneous jejunostomy drainage until patient's death. Therapeutic options of tumoral occlusion of afferent loops are reviewed.     

Recanalization results after carotid stent placement

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The details of stent reconstruction in the vascular lumen and of the adaptation of carotid stents, the vessel wall, and the vascular anatomy are only occasionally reported. The purpose of this study was to determine the immediate and longer-term anatomic results after implantation of self-expanding carotid stents. METHODS: In a retrospective study, pre- and postprocedural angiograms and duplex sonograms from 40 consecutive carotid stent procedures in 39 patients (22 men, 17 women; mean age, 67 years; age range, 53-84 years) with high-grade (> or =70 %) internal carotid artery (ICA) stenoses were evaluated to assess the expansion of the vascular lumen, apposition of the stent, and geometric changes in the ICA after the implantation of rolling-membrane and carotid Wallstents (n = 22) or Easy Wallstents (n = 18). RESULTS: Optimal widening of the lumen and apposition of the stent were achieved in 11 (28%) of 40 arteries. Residual stenoses (n = 16), free stent filaments not attached to the vessel wall (n = 21), and stent-induced kinking of the ICA (n = 6) were minor shortcomings of stent reconstruction. Because of one death, peri-interventional morbidity and mortality rates were 3%. During follow-up (median, 24 months), one high-grade restenosis, one ipsilateral stroke, and two ipsilateral transient ischemic attacks were observed. CONCLUSION: Suboptimal anatomic results frequently occur after endovascular treatment of atherosclerotic carotid artery stenosis with self-expanding Wallstents. With the exception of one symptomatic restenosis, no major complications or longer-term sequelae were clearly related to these findings, but further controlled follow-up studies of larger samples are required.     

Usefulness of multifunctional gastrointestinal coil catheter for colorectal stent placement

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a multifunctional gastrointestinal coil catheter for stent placement in 98 patients with colorectal strictures. The catheter was used in 98 consecutive patients for stent placement in the rectum (n = 24), recto-sigmoid (n = 13), sigmoid (n = 38), descending (n = 6), transverse (n = 11), splenic flexure (n = 3), hepatic flexure (n = 2), and ascending (n = 1) colon. The catheter was made of a stainless steel coil (1.3 mm in inner diameter), a 0.4-mm nitinol wire, a polyolefin tube, and a hemostasis valve. Usefulness of the catheter was evaluated depending on whether the catheter could pass a stricture over a guide wire and whether measurement of the stricture length was possible. The passage of the catheter over a guide wire beyond the stricture was technically successful and well tolerated in 93 (94.9%) of 98 patients. In the failed five patients, it was not possible to negotiate the guide wire due to presence of nearly complete small bowel obstruction. The average length of stricture was 6.15 cm (range, 3 cm to 20 cm) in patients with the colorectal stricture. There were no procedure-related complications. In conclusion, the multifunctional coil catheter seems to be useful in colorectal stent placement.     

Percutaneous cystic duct stent placement for the treatment of acute cholecystitis resulting from common bile duct stent placement for malignant obstruction

Common bile duct (CBD) stent placement to relieve malignant biliary obstruction can occasionally cause cystic duct obstruction and acute cholecystitis. Cholecystostomy tube placement is often performed in patients with limited life expectancy but can have a significant impact on quality of life. To allow cholecystostomy tube removal, percutaneous metallic stent placement was performed across the cystic duct via the tube tract in such a patient. The procedure included traversal across the previously placed CBD stent. At 5-month follow-up, the patient remained symptom-free. In select patients who develop acute cholecystitis after CBD stent placement for malignant obstruction, percutaneous stent placement across the cystic duct may be considered a treatment option.     

Polyurethane-covered self-expandable nitinol stent for malignant biliary obstruction: preliminary results

Purpose: To evaluate the immediate and long-term results in ten patients with malignant biliary obstruction using a polyurethane-covered, self-expandable nitinol stent. Methods: A nitinol stent, fully covered with high-elasticity polyurethane, with an unconstrained diameter of 10 mm and a total length of 60–80 mm, was placed transhepatically under fluoroscopic guidance in ten patients. The length of the biliary obstruction varied between 30–50 mm. The follow-up examination included a clinical assessment, serum bilirubin measurement, and ultrasound examinations at one-month intervals in all patients. Results: Initial stent deployment was successful in eight patients. Two patients experienced proximal migration, which was solved by insertion of two, uncovered Wallstents. One patient had the stent removed after two weeks because of severe nausea and vomiting. One patient had delayed migration of the covered stent after 40 weeks. The follow-up duration was 3–40 weeks (Mean: 16.9 weeks). Seven patients died (3–26 weeks) and three patients survived (24–40 weeks). The bilirubin measurements in all patients had significantly decreased one week after stent insertion. The levels of amylase and lipase had did not increase after stent insertion. Conclusions: A polyurethane-covered, self-expandable nitinol stent can be used effectively and safely in the treatment of malignant biliary obstruction. The preliminary results are favorable, but there is a need for further large studies to determine both long-term survival and patency.     

Malignant esophagogastric junction obstruction: palliative treatment with an antireflux valve stent

The authors assessed the efficacy of an antireflux valve stent in the palliation of malignant esophagogastric junction (EGJ) obstruction after in vitro testing of the stent. Seventeen patients with inoperable malignant EGJ obstruction were treated. Antireflux valves, made of three polyurethane leaflets, were attached to the distal part of the stent to prevent reflux. When the flow rate of normal saline was 100 mL/sec in the forward direction, the valve fully opened at a pressure of 10 mm Hg. When the flow rate of normal saline was 0.35 mL/sec in the backward direction, the valve nearly completely closed at a pressure of 10 mm Hg. Stent placement was successful in all patients without complications. The median dysphagia score decreased significantly, from 3.0 (dysphagia to liquids) to 1.0 (dysphagia to normal solid food) (P < .0005). No patients experienced reflux symptoms. There was one case of stent migration. A valve stent that can prevent major reflux is an effective device for the palliation of malignant EGJ obstruction.