Efficacy and safety of endoscopic prophylactic treatment with undiluted cyanoacrylate for gastric varices

AIM:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of undiluted N-butyl-2 cyanoacrylate plus methacryloxysulfolane(NBCM)as a prophylactic treatment for gastric varices(GV)bleeding.METHODS:This prospective study was conducted at a single tertiary-care teaching hospital between October 2009 and March 2013.Patients with portal hypertension(PH)and GV,with no active gastrointestinal bleeding,were enrolled in primary prophylactic treatment with NBCM injection without lipiodol dilution.Initial diagnosis of GV was based on endoscopy and confirmed with endosonography(EUS); the same procedure was used after treatment to confirm eradication of GV.After puncturing the GV with a regular injection needle,1 mL of undiluted NBCM was injected intranasally into GV.The injection was repeated as necessary to achieve eradication or until a maximum total volume of 3 mL of NBCM had been injected.Patients were followed clinically and evaluated with endoscopy at 3,6 and 12 mo.Later follow-ups were performed yearly.The main outcome measures were efficacy(GV eradication),safety(adverse events related to cyanoacrylate injection),recurrence,bleeding from GV and mortality related to GV treatment.RESULTS:A total of 20 patients(15 male)with PH and GV were enrolled in the study and treated with undiluted NBCM injection.Only 2(10%)patients had no esophageal varices(EV); 18(90%)patients were treated with endoscopic band ligation to eradicate EV before inclusion in the study.The patients were followed clinically and endoscopically for a median of 31 mo(range:6-40 mo).Eradication of GV was observed in all patients(13 patients were treated with 1 session and 7 patients with 2 sessions),with a maximum injected volume of 2 mL NBCM.One patient had GV recurrence,confirmed by EUS,at 6-mo follow-up,and another had late recurrence with GV bleeding after 35 mo of follow-up; overall,GV recurrence was observed in 2 patients(10%),after 6 and 35 mo of follow-up,and GV bleeding rate was 5%(1 patient).Mild epigastric pain was reported by 3 patients(15%).No mortality or major complications,including embolism,or damage to equipment were observed.CONCLUSION:Endoscopic injection with NBCM,without lipiodol,may be a safe and effective treatment for primary prophylaxis of gastric variceal bleeding.

Endoscopic therapy using a self-expandable metallic stent with an anti-migration system for postorthotopic liver transplantation anastomotic biliary stricture

BACKGROUND Endoscopic therapy using multiple plastic stents(MPSs)is the standard therapy for postorthotopic liver transplantation(p-OLT)anastomotic biliary stricture(ABS).However,this approach demands repeated procedures.Recent studies us-ing fully covered self-expandable metallic stents(FCSEMS)have shown en-couraging results,but migration occurs in 10%to 40%of cases.The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic treatment using FCSEMS with an anti-migration system(Am-FCSEMS)in patients with p-OLT ABS.AIM To evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic treatment using an Am-FCSEMS in patients with p-OLT ABS.METHODS This study was conducted in a private tertiary care centre in S?o Paulo,Brazil and was approved by our institution's Human Research Committee.From April 2018 to October 2020,regardless of previous endoscopic treatment(MPS or FCSEMS),17 patients with p-OLT ABS and indications for endoscopic therapy were included in this study.The exclusion criteria were pregnancy,nonanastomotic biliary or hilar stricture,hepatic artery stenosis/thrombosis,isolated biliary fistulae,a distance shorter than 2 cm from the stricture to the hepatic hilum,and patient refusal.The primary endpoint was the efficacy of p-OLT ABS endoscopic treatment using an Am-FCSEMS that re-mained in place for a 12-mo period.Biliary sphincterotomy was performed in patients with native papilla,and an Am-FCSEMS(10 mm in final diameter and 60 or 80 mm in length)was placed(Hanarostent TM MI Tech,Co).Balloon stricture dilation was performed only if necessary to introduce the stent.RESULTS Three patients were excluded due to loss to follow-up before stent removal.Among the 14 patients included and followed,7 were women,and the average age was 56 years(range:28-76).The average period of Am-FCSEMS placement was 362±109 d.Technical success occurred in all 14 patients(100%).There were no cases of distal stent migration.Complete resolution of the stricture occurred in 13/14 patients(92.85%).Adverse events occurred in 3/14 patients(21.42%):2 patients with mild acute pancreatitis(14.28%)and 1 patient(7.14%)with stent dysfunction(occlusion by biliary sludge and stones,which was treated endoscopically without the need for stent removal).No deaths occurred related to therapy.All stents were removed using foreign body forceps or snares without difficulty.After Am-FCSEMS removal,all 13 patients who had ABS resolution were followed-up for an average of 411±172 d,and there was no stricture recurrence or need for further endoscopic therapy.CONCLUSION In this retrospective study,endoscopy therapy using an Am-FCSEMS for p-OLT ABS was safe and effective,with a high stricture re-solution rate that was probably due to the absence of stent migration.