Covered Stent Placement for the Treatment of Malignant Superior Vena Cava Syndrome: Is Unilateral Covered Stenting Safe and Effective?

Objective

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of unilateral covered stent placement in patients with malignant superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome.

Materials and Methods

Between October 2008 and November 2012, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent placement for malignant SVC syndrome was performed in 40 consecutive patients (35 men and five women; mean age, 61.4 years; range, 35-81 years). All covered stents were unilaterally placed within the SVC or across the venous confluence when needed to relieve venous obstruction and prevent tumor overgrowth, regardless of patency of contralateral brachiocephalic veins.

Results

Stent placement was technically successful in all patients. There were no major complications. Of the 37 patients symptomatic prior to stent placement, 34 (92%) experienced complete symptomatic relief 1-8 days after stent placement. Of the 29 patients who underwent covered stent placement across the venous confluence, nine patients had patent contralateral brachiocephalic veins prior to stent placement. However, no sign of SVC obstruction or contralateral upper extremity venous thrombosis was observed during the follow-up period. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed median patient survival of 163 days. Stent occlusion occurred in four (10%) of 40 patents. Cumulative stent patency rates at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months were 95%, 92%, 86%, and 86%, respectively.

Conclusion

Unilateral covered stent placement appears to be a safe and effective method for treating malignant SVC syndrome, despite the location of SVC occlusion.     

Fatal arterial hemorrhage after pancreaticoduodenectomy: How do we simultaneously accomplish complete hemostasis and hepatic arterial flow?

BACKGROUNDAlthough arterial hemorrhage after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is not frequent, it is fatal. Arterial hemorrhage is caused by pseudoaneurysm rupture, and the gastroduodenal artery stump and hepatic artery (HA) are frequent culprit vessels. Diagnostic procedures and imaging modalities are associated with certain difficulties. Simultaneous accomplishment of complete hemostasis and HA flow preservation is difficult after PD. Although complete hemostasis may be obtained by endovascular treatment (EVT) or surgery, liver infarction caused by hepatic ischemia and/or liver abscesses caused by biliary ischemia may occur. We herein discuss therapeutic options for fatal arterial hemorrhage after PD.AIMTo present our data here along with a discussion of therapeutic strategies for fatal arterial hemorrhage after PD.METHODSWe retrospectively investigated 16 patients who developed arterial hemorrhage after PD. The patients’ clinical characteristics, diagnostic procedures, actual treatments [transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), stent-graft placement, or surgery], clinical courses, and outcomes were evaluated.RESULTSThe frequency of arterial hemorrhage after PD was 5.5%. Pancreatic leakage was observed in 12 patients. The onset of hemorrhage occurred at a median of 18 d after PD. Sentinel bleeding was observed in five patients. The initial EVT procedures were stent-graft placement in seven patients, TAE in six patients, and combined therapy in two patients. The rate of technical success of the initial EVT was 75.0%, and additional EVTs were performed in four patients. Surgical approaches including arterioportal shunting were performed in eight patients. Liver infarction was observed in two patients after TAE. Two patients showed a poor outcome even after successful EVT. These four patients with poor clinical courses and outcomes had a poor clinical condition before EVT. Fourteen patients were successfully treated.CONCLUSIONTranscatheter placement of a covered stent may be useful for simultaneous accomplishment of complete hemostasis and HA flow preservation.     

食道覆膜支架治疗小儿食管急性穿孔:单中心临床经验回顾分析

目的采用食管覆膜支架(Sigma)治疗狭窄扩张时出现的小儿食管急性穿孔,分析覆膜支架治疗小儿食管急性穿孔的有效性。方法回顾性分析我院消化内镜中心2010年10月-2012年5月进行食管狭窄扩张的病例,只纳入扩张过程中发现的小儿食管急性穿孔,收集的资料包括人口统计资料、病因、诊断、治疗方式、并发症和预后等。结果 4例食管急性穿孔患儿,内镜操作过程中发现穿孔后,即刻放置食管覆膜支架堵漏,并给予广谱抗生素静滴及全胃肠外营养。次日钡餐造影观察堵漏情况,如果堵漏完全,可经胃管进食。支架平均放置14 d(10 d～21 d)后取除,平均住院时间为15 d(11 d～21 d),所有患儿均在放射线及内镜下证实食管穿孔痊愈。结论腔内食管支架放置是治疗内镜操作过程中食管急性穿孔的有效方法,能迅速封堵瘘口,避免急诊手术,降低患儿病死率。     

Long-term follow-up study of elderly patients with covered stent implantation after coronary perforation

ObjectiveTo evaluate the long-term efficacy of covered stent implantation in the treatment of elderly patients with coronary perforation while undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI）.MethodsFrom June 2004 to June 2012, our center has followed ten elderly patients （age≥ 60 years） who sustained coronary perforation during PCI. The major adverse cardiac events （MACE） were observed as well. The patients were advised to take 75 mg/day Clopidogrel for two years, and indefinite use of 100 mg/day enteric-coated aspirin.ResultsSix out of the 10 patients aged from 60 to 76 years old （mean 68.6 ± 5.2 years） were male, four were female. The average diameter of the implanted stents was 3.3 ± 0.3 mm, and the average length was 22.1 ± 3.7 mm. All the ruptures were successfully sealed without intra-procedural death. The follow-up duration ranged from 0.6 to 67 months （mean 31.7 ± 24.5 months）. One patient died of multiple organ failure due to lung infection in 19 days after PCI; one died of cardiac sudden death in 13 months after PCI; one had angina pectoris in 53 months after PCI; one underwent multi-slice CT examination in six months after PCI, and no in-stent restenosis was found. The other four patients received angiography follow-up, and the results showed that three patients had no intra-stent restenosis, while one had left anterior descending （LAD） restenosis in the covered stent in 67 months after PCI. The in-hospital mortality was 10% （1/10）. The MACE rate in 12 months after PCI was 10% （1/10）. During the entire followed-up period, the restenosis rate in target vessels was 20% （1/5）, mortality was 20% （2/10）, and the MACE rate was 40% （4/10）.ConclusionTreatment of coronary perforation by using covered stents can achieve favorable long-term results; a two-year dual antiplatelet therapy （DAPT） after PCI can effectively prevent intra-stent thrombosis.     

Use of covered Cheatham-Platinum stents in congenital heart disease

Background

Controversy remains regarding the use of covered stents in congenital heart disease (CHD). We evaluate the possibilities and safety of covered Cheatham-Platinum (CCP) stents in CHD.

Methods

Single-center retrospective CHD-database study of all CCP stents, 2003–2012. Three study groups: aortic coarctation (CoA), right ventricular outflow tract pre-stenting for percutaneous revalvulation (RVOT), and miscellaneous. Continuous data expressed as median (range).

Results

114 CCP stents in 105 patients, age 16.8 years (4.2–71.2).CoA group: 54 CCP stents in 51 patients: 3/54 for aneurysm exclusion, in 51/54 covering used “prophylactically” because of increased risk for vessel tear. Overall, CCP stenting increased the coarctation diameter from 6 mm (0–15) to 15 mm (10–20) (p < 0.001).RVOT group: 39 CCP stents in 37 patients (34 with RVOT graft, 3 with transannular patch): the graft lumen had shrunken from nominal 21 mm (10–26) to 13 mm (5–22); with the CCP stent the RVOT was redilated to 22 mm (16–26, p < 0.001 vs stenosis).Miscellaneous group: 21 CCP stents in 17 patients: closure of Fontan-circuit fenestration (n = 5), restoration of superior caval vein (n = 2) or pulmonary artery (n = 3) patency, relief of supra-pulmonary stenosis (n = 2), exclusion of aberrant pulmonary arteries (n = 1), cavopulmonary conduit expansion (n = 2), Blalock–Taussig shunt flow reduction (n = 1), and defibrillator lead protection from sharp stents (n = 1). Hybrid procedures performed in 3/17 patients. CCP stent was used as rescue treatment in 2/patients to seal iatrogenic bleeding.

Conclusion

CCP stents can safely be applied in CHD patients. The covering allows adequate sealing of existing or expected tears, thereby increasing the safety margin with more complete dilation.     

覆膜支架置入治疗食管癌放疗后食管-气管（纵隔）瘘疗效及并发症探讨

目的 探讨覆膜支架治疗食管癌放疗后食管-气管（纵隔）瘘疗效及并发症.方法 2008年8月至2013年7月我科收治250例食管癌放疗后食管-气管（纵隔）瘘患者,DSA引导下行覆膜支架置入治疗.结果 242例患者成功置入支架,复查食道造影瘘口均封闭,成功率96.8％.8例因患者难以耐受或术中出现大量呕血终止手术.所有支架均未取出.25例因再次出现瘘口而行第二次支架置入.所有病例术后均有异物感.10例出现明显胸痛,须应用第三阶梯止痛药.5例于2周至1月内出现食管大出血抢救无效死亡（2％）,KPS功能状态评分升高（P＜0.05）及KPS体力状态评分下降（P＜0.05）均有统计学意义.结论 覆膜食管支架治疗食管癌放疗后食管-气管（纵隔）瘘成功率高,明显改善患者生存质量.但必须严格掌握适应症,作好术前评估及准备,手术过程动作轻柔,减少并发症的发生.     

Perivascular inflammatory reaction after percutaneous placement of covered stents

A 52-year-old woman with an extensive superficial femoral artery occlusion was treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Because of extensive dissections, two covered stents were placed percutaneously. The intervention was successful with respect to vessel patency, but local pain and fever developed 5 hr after the intervention. Swelling of the thigh occurred, but deep venous thrombosis was excluded. MRI revealed pronounced soft-tissue edema in the adductor canal that persisted for 4 weeks. The fever responded to antiin-flammatory medication, but the pain remained for 4 weeks. The vessel was patent at the last follow-up, 8 weeks after graft placement. Soft-tissue edema after percutaneous placement of covered stents has been reported previously. The cause of the inflammatory reaction is unclear.     

带膜支架治疗颈内动脉海绵窦段动脉瘤二例

目的报告带膜支架成功治疗两例颈内动脉海绵窦段大型宽颈动脉瘤的临床经验.方法对2例颈内动脉海绵窦段大型宽颈动脉瘤患者,采用数字减影（DSA）下采用带膜支架治疗.结果支架成功置入动脉瘤颈处,造影示动脉瘤完全不显影.病例1术后神经功能明显好转,4 d后出院;病例2术后2周出院,动眼神经麻痹正在恢复中.结论带膜支架治疗颈内动脉海绵窦段大型宽颈动脉瘤可获满意效果.     

Palliative treatment of malignant gastroduodenal obstruction with metallic stent: prospective comparison of covered and uncovered stents

Background. The placement of self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) is known to be effective palliative treatment of malignant gastroduodenal obstruction. There are two types of SEMS – covered and uncovered – each with its own advantages and disadvantages. This study was conducted to compare between the clinical outcomes of covered and uncovered stents in patients with malignant gastroduodenal obstruction. Patients and methods. The study was conducted prospectively from January 1998 to June 2007 and 154 patients were included. All had symptomatic gastroduodenal obstruction and were not candidates for curative operation. Seventy patients received covered SEMS, while the other 84 received uncovered SEMS. We compared technical and clinical success rates, tumour ingrowth rate, stent migration rate, stent patency time and patient survival in both SEMS groups. Results. The technical and clinical success rates of the covered and uncovered stent groups did not differ. Stent migration was more frequent in the covered stent group than in the uncovered group (17.1% versus 0%; p=0.0001). Tumour ingrowth was more frequent in the uncovered stent group than in the covered group (16.6% versus 2.9%; p=0.0066). Stent re-intervention rate, stent patency time and patient survival did not differ between groups. Conclusion. Covered and uncovered stent insertions are technically feasible and effective palliative treatment of malignant gastroduodenal obstruction. Covered stents can reduce the risk of tumour ingrowth, whereas uncovered stents are effective in preventing stent migration. However, covered stents did not differ from uncovered stents in regard to other clinical outcomes.