Biliary stent causing colovaginal fistula: case report.

OBJECTIVES: Perforation of the bowel during placement of a biliary stent is a known complication of this procedure. We report the endoluminal loss of a biliary stent during routine stent extraction that ultimately led to a chronic colovaginal fistula. This case emphasizes the need for evaluation of fecal passage of stents in patients with a known dislodged prosthesis. CASE REPORT: A 65-year-old white female underwent biliary stent placement for an episode of choledocholithiasis. The stent was lost in the duodenum during routine extraction. The patient was managed expectantly. She denied ever passing this stent via the rectum and began to develop symptoms of colovaginal fistula. Evaluation found a retained biliary stent in the sigmoid colon and a fistula into the vagina. The patient underwent elective low anterior resection and colovaginal fistula repair. DISCUSSION: Reports exist of migration of stents that lead to acute colonic perforation and the need for emergent surgery. For this reason, it has been suggested that dropped or migrated stents be purposefully retrieved. However, if the option of expectant observation is used, it is important to clearly document the fecal passage of these stents and be prepared to retrieve these objects if they have a prolonged bowel transit time.     

Self-expandable metallic stent for unresectable malignant strictures in the esophagus and cardia

Objective Self-expandable metallic stent (EMS) placement has been the first choice for dysphagia because of the certainty over its safety, low invasiveness, and immediate efficacy. However, there still remain some problems in relation to the EMS placement site and anticancer therapies before and after EMS placement. Methods: Consecutive 78 patients in whom EMS was placed due to the unresectable malignant stricture in the esophagus or cardia from July 1995 to August 2003 in our department were studied. Results: Gastroesophageal reflux was found in 5 of 8 patients after placement of conventional EMS for the stricture in the gastroesophageal junction. Meanwhile, acid and bile reflux into the esophagus were not detected by pH and bilirubin monitoring, respectively, in 6 patients after placement of the EMS with an anti-reflux mechanism for the stricture in the gastroesophageal junction. The median survival period of all patients after EMS placement was 123 days. The median survival period of 7 patients with radiotherapy only after EMS placement was 138 days and that of 17 patients with radiotherapy before EMS placement was 60 days, which was shorter than that of the former (p<0.05). On the other hand, the median survival period after hospital admission due to dysphagia of these 7 patients was longer than that of 17 patients with radiotherapy only before EMS placement, although, the difference was not significant. Conclusion: EMS with an antireflux mechanism is not commercially available in Japan and approval is urgently required. The indication of radiotherapy associated with EMS placement is to be studied further.     

Treatment of a malignant esophageal fistula with a Gore-Tex-covered flexible nitinol stent

In order to treat fistulated esophageal cancer using a flexible stent, a covered flexible stent was constructed by wrapping a nitinol stent with a thin sheet of Gore-Tex, preserving the stents original advantages of flexibility and a low-profile introducer system. This stent was used to perform standard radiotherapy in a case of fistulated esophageal cancer.     

Self-expanding mesh stent for endoscopic palliation of rectal obstructing tumors: a preliminary report

Summary The endoscopic insertion of self-expanding mesh stents in four patients affected by obstructing rectal malignant tumors is reported. The preliminary experience shows that, in the short term, normal defecation was achieved, with no complications. Longer follow-up is necessary to evaluate the duration and the quality of the palliative effect.     

Results of the routine use of a modified endoprosthesis to drain the common bile duct after laparoscopic choledochotomy

Background: One hundred eighty-one patients were submitted to laparoscopic common bile duct exploration. Methods: A transcystic approach was used in 147 patients, choledochotomy in 14, and both in 20. The indications to perform a choledochotomy included stones larger than 20 mm, stones proximal to the cystic duct entrance, and cases in which the transcystic duct approach proved impossible or unsuccessful. Results: The common bile duct was drained by a T-tube in four patients, by laparoscopic sphincterotomy in one, by laparoscopic choledochoduodenostomy in one, and by a 10 Fr endoprosthesis in 28. The stent placement was technically feasible in all patients but one. The biliary drainage was adequate. Mean hospital stay was 2.1 days. Complication was limited to one umbilical infection and one self-limited biliary leak. Conclusions: The procedure proved to be technically simple, safe, and efficient, and resulted in a low morbidity rate and short hospital stay. Received: 29 March 1996/Accepted: 12 June 1996     

Stenting of the left carotid artery to relieve anginal symptoms.

Stenting of the carotid artery is usually performed either to prevent an acute neurologic event or to treat episodes of recurrent transient ischemic attacks. Occasionally, it may be performed for other indications. We describe the case of a patient with prior coronary artery bypass grafting using a left internal mammary arterial graft, in addition to left carotid artery to left subclavian artery bypass for symptomatic left subclavian stenosis, who subsequently underwent left common carotid artery stenting to relieve anginal symptoms.     

药物洗脱支架直接置入治疗A型和B_1型病变的临床观察

目的　评价直接置入药物洗脱支架 (CYPHERTM,codis)在A或B1 型病变的冠心病患者治疗中的安全性、可行性。方法　 6 2例接受CYPHERTM 支架直接置入的患者 (直接支架组 )和一般情况匹配的 5 1例球囊扩张后行冠脉支架术的患者 (常规支架组 ) ,比较两组的一般情况 ,冠脉造影及介入治疗即刻和临床随访结果。结果　直接支架组介入操作时间明显短于常规支架组 [(17.2± 8.6 )比 (2 6 .3± 7.1)min ,P <0 .0 1],直接支架组平均扩张压明显高于常规支架组 [(14± 3)比 (12± 1.9)atm ,P<0 .0 1],两组无一例发生介入治疗相关的严重心脏事件。随访期间两组严重心脏不良事件发生率无显著差异。结论　A或B1 型病变的冠心病患者CYPHERTM 支架直接置入术可缩短介入操作时间 ,即刻效果、并发症及中期临床随访与常规支架组差异无显著性意义     

滤网式脑保护装置下颈动脉狭窄支架置入术的临床研究

目的探讨颈动脉支架置入术中滤网式脑保护装置的有效性及安全性。方法19例颈动脉狭窄患者在滤网脑保护装置下使用自膨胀支架行颈动脉支架置入术。观察脑栓塞的发生和所回收的过滤网。术后短期随访。结果19例滤网式脑保护装置下颈动脉支架置入术均成功实施,回收的过滤伞中8个发现组织碎片,无手术死亡及症状性脑梗塞并发症。临床短期随访无脑缺血发生。结论脑保护装置下支架置入术治疗颈动脉狭窄是安全和有效的。     

颈动脉狭窄在脑保护装置下的支架置入治疗

目的探讨颈动脉狭窄患者支架治疗中的脑保护装置的有效性和安全性及治疗意义。方法对14例颈动脉狭窄患者进行血管内支架治疗。全部应用了脑保护装置(滤网型)。结果14例患者成功地释放了18枚自膨式支架。其中2例发生微栓子脱落轻度卒中,治疗1～3d完全恢复,颈动脉狭窄6例出现短暂性心率减慢和低血压。随访期所有患者均未发生脑梗死。结论在支架治疗中,脑保护装置的应用可减少治疗中的神经并发症,是一种有效和安全的治疗方法。     

蘑菇状覆膜内支架的设计和在食管胃吻合口-胸腔瘘中的应用

目的 设计封堵食管胃吻合口-胸腔瘘的覆膜内支架。方法 根据食管胃吻合口区的特殊解剖结构和吻合口胸腔瘘的病变特点，设计蘑菇状覆膜内支架。透视下，5例吻合口巨大胸腔瘘患者置入6枚蘑菇状覆膜内支架。结果 蘑菇状覆膜内支架能有效封堵食管胃吻合口巨大胸腔瘘，解决了进食问题，改善了营养状况。结论 蘑菇状覆膜内支架结构设计合理，操作简单、安全，近期疗效明显，是一项值得推广的新技术。