A wire-loop technique for removal of migrated and embedded biliary stents

A novel technique to remove migrated esophageal stent under fluoroscopy

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel technique for removal of migrated esophageal stent (MES) under fluoroscopy.

METHODS

From January 2009 to April 2023, 793 patients with a dysphagia score of 3-4 underwent esophageal stenting at our center, and 25 patients (mean age: 70.06 years old; male/female: 15/10) underwent stent removal using "loop method" under fluoroscopy. The primary outcomes were technical success and complications. The secondary outcomes were procedure time, radiation exposure, biochemical indicators [white blood cell (WBC), hemoglobin (Hb), platelet (PLT), albumin (ALB), alanine transaminase (ALT), total bilirubin (TB), urea nitrogen (UN) and C-reactive protein] of pre- and post-treatment at 2 weeks.

RESULTS

Technical success was 100% without major complications. The mean procedure time was (39.44 ± 9.28) minutes, which showed no statistical significance between benign (n = 5) and malignant (n = 20) group [(42.40 ± 8.85) vs (38.71 ± 9.46) mins, p > 0.05]. The mean radiation exposure was (332.88 ± 261.47) mGy, which showed no statistical significance between benign and malignant group [(360.74 ± 231.43) vs (325.92 ± 273.54) mGy, p > 0.05]. Pre- and post-procedure Hb [(114.46 ± 11.96) vs. (117.57 ± 13.12) g/L] and ALB [(42.26 ± 3.39) vs. (44.12 ± 3.77) g/L] showed significant difference (p < 0.05), while WBC, PLT, CRP, and ALT showed no significance (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Fluoroscopy-guided "Loop method" for MES removal is an effective and safe alternative technique.

Trimming of a Migrated Biliary Nitinol Stent Using Argon Plasma

Metallic stent migration is a well-known complication which cannot always be managed by removal or repositioning, especially in case of uncovered stent. We report a patient who developed obstructive jaundice due to migration of an expandable metallic stent (EMS) inserted in the lower bile duct. Trimming of the EMS using argon plasma was performed, with the power setting of 60 W and 2.0 l/min of argon flow. The distal part of the EMS was removed and mechanical cleaning using balloon catheter was performed for remnant EMS. Without additional stent insertion, jaundice was relieved in a few days. No complication was recognized during the procedure and no recurrence of jaundice in the rest of his life.

Endoscopic removal of malfunctioning biliary self-expandable metallic stents

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic removal of malfunctioning self-expandable metallic biliary stents (SEMS) is difficult and not well described. The aim of this study is to review the indications, the techniques, and the results of SEMS removal in a cohort of patients with malfunctioning stents.

METHODS

All patients who underwent an attempt at endoscopic removal of biliary SEMS over a 5-year period were retrospectively identified. The main indications for SEMS removal were the following: distal migration of the stent or impaction to the duodenum, impaction into the bile-duct wall, tissue ingrowth, and inappropriate length of the stent causing occlusion of intrahepatic ducts. SEMS were removed by using foreign-body forceps or polypectomy snares.

RESULTS

Endoscopic removal of 39 SEMS (13 uncovered and 26 covered) was attempted in 29 patients (17 men; mean age, 66 years). SEMS extraction was attempted after a mean of 7.5 months (8.75 months standard deviation) post-SEMS insertion. Removal was successful in 20 patients (68.9%) and in 29 SEMS (74.3%). Covered SEMS were effectively removed more frequently than uncovered ones: 24 of 26 (92.3%) and 5 of 13 (38.4%), respectively (p < 0.05). No major complications were recorded. Multivariate analysis showed that the time interval between insertion and removal, SEMS length, stent-mesh design (zigzag vs. interlaced), and indication for removal were not predictive of success at stent removal.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic removal of biliary SEMS is feasible and safe in more than 70% of cases. Because only 38% of uncovered SEMS were removable, the presence of a stent covering is the only factor predictive of successful stent extraction. The presence of diffuse and severe ingrowth was the main feature limiting SEMS removal.

Efficacy and safety of the covered Wallstent in patients with distal malignant biliary obstruction

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of the covered Wallstent, a commercially available silicone-covered, self-expandable metallic stent (covered Wallstent), for the treatment of distal malignant biliary obstruction.

METHODS

Sixty-nine consecutive patients with unresectable distal malignant biliary obstruction who underwent covered Wallstent placement between October 2001 and October 2003 were studied at 4 affiliated hospitals.

RESULTS

Mean stent patency and mean survival were 139.1 days and 200.9 days, respectively. Stent occlusion occurred in 7 cases (10.1%), but tumor ingrowth was not observed. Seventeen complications, including 5 cholangitis (7.2%), 4 stent migration (5.8%), 4 cholecystitis (5.8%), and 4 pancreatitis (5.8%) were observed in 16 patients (23.2%). Stent misplacement was observed in 7 patients (10.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

Covered Wallstent is effective in preventing tumor ingrowth for the treatment of distal malignant biliary obstruction. However, the overall complication rate may be higher than uncovered self-expanding metal stents and covered self-expanding metal stents of different design.

Open-biopsy-forceps technique for endoscopic removal of distally migrated and impacted biliary metallic stents

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic removal of distally migrated and impacted biliary metallic stents is technically challenging. An open-biopsy-forceps technique for endoscopic removal of these migrated stents is described.

METHODS

The technique was used in 4 patients with distally migrated and impacted covered metallic stents. A closed biopsy forceps was advanced through the stent mesh and opened within the stent to form an "anchor." With endoscope withdrawal, the stent was dislodged easily from the duodenum to the stomach. After grasping an end of the stent with a snare, the stent was removed by complete withdrawal of the endoscope.

OBSERVATIONS

In all patients, the impacted stent was removed successfully. Mean time for removal was 10.2 minutes. Although ulceration was evident in the duodenal wall where the distal stent end was impacted in all patients, no other complication or adverse event was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The open-biopsy-forceps technique is useful for endoscopic removal of distally migrated and impacted biliary metallic stents.

Implantation of migrated biliary stents in the digestive tract

BACKGROUND

Biliary stents constitute an alternative for the palliative treatment of benign or malignant biliary obstruction, biliary strictures, choledocholithiasis, biliary fistulas from lateral lesions of the biliary duct or cystic duct leaks due to slippage of clip closure. Obstruction resulting in cholangitis is common. Proximal migration to the biliary duct or distal migration to the duodenum with subsequent passage per rectum are relatively frequent, but impaction and perforation of the bowel are rare.

CASE OUTLINES

Two cases are reported. In one patient a migrated stent impacted in the caecal wall, and in the other the impaction produced a perforation of an adherent small bowel loop. Both patients were treated surgically and made an uneventful recovery.

DISCUSSION

Biliary stents migrate in 8-10% of patients and are generally eliminated by natural means. Occasionally they impact and perforate the digestive tract, usually in the duodenum or other fixed areas or in bowel affected by adhesions due to a previous operation. Although endoscopy is the treatment of choice to retrieve them, operation should be performed whenever there is suspicion of perforation of the intestinal wall.