Analysis of the Application Effect of Tracheal Stent Placement in the Nutritional Support Treatment of Tracheoesophageal Fistula

Objective:To evaluate and analyze the application effect of tracheal stent placement in nutritional support therapy for tracheoesophageal fistula.Methods:Clinical data of 32 patients who underwent nutritional support therapy for tracheoesophageal fistula in our hospital from September 2021 to September 2022 were collected,and all patients underwent tracheal silicone stenting,comparing dyspnea classification and Karnofsky score before and after stenting,and conducting post-treatment follow-up.Results:In 32 patients with tracheoesophageal fistula,dyspnea grading improved from grades III and IV to grades 0 to II.Before treatment,10 patients(31.06%)were in grade IV,17 patients(53.12%)were in grade III,and five patients(15.62)were in grade II;after treatment,13 patients(40.63%)were in grade I,12 patients(37.50%)were in grade I,and seven patients(21.87%)were in grade 0(P<0.05);Karnofsky score(37.52±4.86 before treatment)improved significantly to 71.39±8.24 one week after treatment(P<0.05).Nine patients with tracheoesophageal fistula were placed with silicone Y14-10-10 stent,11 with silicone 18-14-14 stent,three with silicone Y15-12-12,and seven with silicone stent 16-13-13.Conclusion:Silicone tracheobronchial stent placement for the treatment of tracheoesophageal fistula is technically feasible,simple,and safe,with reliable near-term efficacy,and is worthy of popularization and application.

Different percutaneous transhepatic biliary stent placements and catheter drainage in the treatment of middle and low malignant biliary obstruction

BACKGROUND For cases of middle and low biliary obstruction with left and right hepatic duct dilatation,the type of approach and whether different approaches affect the difficulty of puncture operation and intraoperative and postoperative complications have not been discussed in detail.AIM To compare the efficacy of different percutaneous transhepatic biliary stent placements and catheter drainage in treating middle and low biliary obstruction.METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical records of 424 patients with middle and low biliary obstruction who underwent percutaneous liver puncture biliary stent placement and catheter drainage at the Department of Interventional Radiology,Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital between March 2016 and March 2022.Based on the puncture path,patients were categorized into two groups:Subxiphoid left hepatic lobe approach group(Group A,224 cases)and right intercostal,right hepatic lobe approach group(Group B,200 cases).Liver function improvement,postoperative biliary bleeding incidence,postoperative pain duration,and abdominal effusion leakage around the drainage tube were compared between the two groups at 3 d and 1 wk after the surgery.Patient survival time was recorded during follow-up.RESULTS All 424 surgeries were successful without adverse events.Group A comprised 224 cases,and Group B had 200 cases.There was no statistically significant difference in basic data between Group A and Group B(P>0.05).No significant difference in postoperative biliary bleeding incidence was observed between the groups(P>0.05).The decreased rates for total bilirubin(Group A:69.23±4.50,Group B:63.79±5.65),direct bilirubin(Group A:79.30±11.19,Group B:63.62±5.64),and alkaline phosphatase(Group A:60.51±12.23,Group B:42.68±23.56)in the 1st wk after surgery were significantly faster in Group A than in Group B.The decreased rate of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase was also significantly faster in Group A at both 3 d(Group A:40.56±10.32,Group B:32.22±5.12)and 1 wk(Group A:73.19±7.05,Group B:58.81±18.98)after surgery(P<0.05).Group A experienced significantly less peritoneal effusion leakage around the drainage tube than Group B(P<0.05).The patient survival rate was higher in Group A compared to Group B(P<0.05).CONCLUSION In treating jaundice patients with middle and low biliary obstruction,a percutaneous left liver puncture demonstrated better clinical efficacy than a percutaneous right liver puncture.

Endoscopic treatment of extreme esophageal stenosis complicated with esophagotracheal fistula: A case report

BACKGROUND At present,there is no unified and effective treatment for extreme corrosive esophageal stenosis(CES)with esophagotracheal fistula(ETF).This case had extreme and severe esophageal stenosis(ES)and ETF after ingesting an enzyme-based chemical detergent,resulting in a serious pulmonary infection and severe malnutrition.Upper gastrointestinal imaging showed that he had an ETF,and endoscopy showed that he had extreme and severe esophageal stricture.This case was complex and difficult to treat.According to the domestic and foreign lite-rature,there is no universal treatment that is low-risk.CASE SUMMARY A patient came to our hospital with extreme ES,an ETF,and severe malnutrition complicated with pulmonary tuberculosis 1 mo after the consumption of an enzy-me-based detergent.The ES was serious,and the endoscope was unable to pass through the esophagus.We treated him by endoscopic incision method(EIM),esophageal stent placement(ESP),and endoscopic balloon dilation(EBD)by using the bronchoscope and gastroscope.This treatment not only closed the ETF,but also expanded the esophagus,with minimal trauma,greatly reducing the pain of the patient.According to the literature,there are no similar reported cases.CONCLUSION We report,for the first time,a patient with extreme CES complicated with ETF,where the endoscope could not be passed through his esophagus but he could be examined by bronchoscopy and treated by EIM,ESP,and EBD.

Combined Use of Single-balloon Enteroscope and Colonoscope for Self-expandable Metal Stent Placement in Patients with Malignant Small Intestinal Obstruction: a Single-center Comparative Clinical Observation

Small intestinal obstruction is a common complication of primary gastrointestinal cancer or metastatic cancers. Patients with this condition are often poor candidates for surgical bypasses, and placement of self-expanding metal stent(SEMS) can be technically challenging. In this study, we examined the feasibility of combined application of single-balloon enteroscope(SBE) and colonoscope for SEMS placement in patients with malignant small intestinal obstruction. Thirty-four patients were enrolled in this study, among which 22 patients received SEMS placement by using SBE and colonoscope, while the other 12 patients received conservative medical treatment. The patients were followed up for one year. Stent placement was technically feasible in 95.5%(21/22). Clinical improvement was achieved in 86.4%(19/22). For the 19 clinical success cases, the average time of benefits from a gastric outlet obstruction scoring system(GOOSS) increase ≥1 was 111.9±89.5 days. For the 12 patients receiving conservative medical treatment, no significant improvement in GOOSS score was observed. Moreover, a significant increase of Short-Form-36 health survey score was observed in the 19 patients at time of 30 days after stent placement. By Kaplan-Meier analysis, a significant survival improvement was observed in patients with successful SEMS placement, compared with patients receiving conservative medical treatment. Taken together, combined use of SBE and colonoscope makes endoscopic stent placement feasible in patients with malignant small intestinal obstruction, and patients can benefit from it in terms of prolonged survival and improved quality of life.

Current Status and Prospect of Stent Placement for May-Thurner Syndrome

Stent implantation has been proven to be safe and has become the first-line intervention for May-Thumer syndrome(MTS),with satisfactory mid-term patency rates and clinical outcomes.Recent research has demonstrated that catheter-directed thrombolysis is the preferred strategy when MTS is combined with deep vein thrombosis after self-expanding stent placement.However,the stent used for the venous system was developed based on the experience obtained in the treatment of arterial disease.Consequently,relatively common corresponding complications may come along later,which include stent displacement,deformation,and obstruction.Different measures such as adopting a stent with a larger diameter,improving stent flexibility,and increasing stent strength have been employed in order to prevent these complications.The ideal venous stent is presently being evaluated and will be introduced in detail in this review.

Predictive factors for the failure of endoscopic stent-instent self-expandable metallic stent placement to treat malignant hilar biliary obstruction

AIM To investigate the factors predictive of failure when placing a second biliary self-expandable metallic stents(SEMSs). METHODS This study evaluated 65 patients with an unresectable malignant hilar biliary obstruction who were examined in our hospital. Sixty-two of these patients were recruited to the study and divided into two groups: the success group, which consisted of patients in whom a stent-in-stent SEMS had been placed successfully, and the failure group, which consisted of patients in whom the stent-in-stent SEMS had not been placed successfully. We compared the characteristics of the patients, the stricture state of their biliary ducts, and the implemented endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) procedures between the two groups.RESULTS The angle between the target biliary duct stricture and the first implanted SEMS was significantly larger in the failure group than in the success group. There were significantly fewer wire or dilation devices(ERCP catheter, dilator, or balloon catheter) passing the first SEMS cell in the failure group than in the success group. The cut-off value of the angle predicting stent-in-stent SEMS placement failure was 49.7 degrees according to the ROC curve(sensitivity 91.7%, specificity 61.2%). Furthermore, the angle was significantly smaller in patients with wire or dilation devices passing the first SEMS cell than in patients without wire or dilation devices passing the first SEMS cell. CONCLUSION A large angle was identified as a predictive factor for failure of stent-in-stent SEMS placement.

Clinical Comparison of Airway Stent Placement in Intervention Room and Operating Room

Background and objective Airway stent placement is the effective regimen for central airway obstruction(CAO),while its application scenarios varied.This study aimed to make clinical comparison of airway stent placement in the intervention room and operating room.Methods Patients underwent airway stent placement between 2014 and 2018 were included in this retrospective case-control study.Clinical performance of airway stent placement in intervention room and operating room were compared.Results 82 patients were included in this study,including 39 in the intervention room and 43 in the operating room.Patients treated in the intervention room had lower Charlson comorbidity index(CCI)(P=0.018)and received less Y-shaped stents(P<0.001).Better clinical response(P=0.026),more stents placed(P<0.001)and longer length of stent(P<0.001)were observed in operating room,while there was no significantly statistical difference of stent-related complications and post-stent survival rate between the two groups.Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO)supported airway stent placement procedures were performed in the operating room,which provided definitive safety support for high-risk intervention.Conclusion Patients with CAO could benefit from the operating room scenario,and airway stent placement in the operating room is more suitable for patients with higher CCI scores and receiving more complicated procedures.

Endoscopic transcystic stent placement for an intrahepatic abscess due to gallbladder perforation

Perforation of the gallbladder with cholecystohepatic communication is a rare cause of liver abscess. Because it is a rare entity, the treatment modality has not been fully established. We report for the first time a patient with an intrahepatic abscess due to gallbladder perforation successfully treated by endoscopic stent placement into the gallbladder who had a poor response to continuous percutaneous drainage.

Self-expandable metal stents for choledocholithiasis in Billroth II gastrectomy patients

Background: Efficient ampullary intervention is essential for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) in patients with a prior Billroth II gastrectomy. We retrospectively evaluated the safety and effectiveness of ampullary intervention using fully covered self-expandable metal stents(FCSEMSs) for the management of common bile duct(CBD) stones in a subset of patients with a history of Billroth II gastrectomy. Methods: This retrospective analysis involved patients with a prior Billroth II gastrectomy who underwent ampullary intervention with FCSEMSs for the management of CBD stones. The factors associated with FCSEMSs placement, treatment success, and procedural complications were analyzed. Results: A group of 15 patients(10 males; median age, 78 years) underwent biliary metal stent placement for high degree of CBD angulation(6), small or flat papilla with unclear margin(5), current use of double antiplatelet agents or an anticoagulant(2), unwanted instrumentation of the cystic duct(1), and insecure position of the scope(1). Ampullary intervention with FCSEMSs was successful in all patients. After dilating the ampulla of Vater and building a durable conduit with FCSEMSs immediately, CBD stones were removed successfully from all patients in a single session. A mild post-ERCP pancreatitis occurred in one patient, who recovered without complications. Conclusion: Ampullary intervention with FCSEMSs is safe and effective for the management of CBD stones in a subset of patients with a history of Billroth II gastrectomy.

Malignant obstruction in the ileocecal region treated by selfexpandable stent placement under the fluoroscopic guidance: A case report

BACKGROUND Malignant tumors of the ileocecal region often cause intestinal obstruction.Emergency surgery is the main treatment for patients presenting with an obstruction.However,this procedure is associated with a high mortality rate and frequent complications.The placement of colon stents is commonly performed for obstructions in the distal colon and is a less invasive and safer procedure.However,obstructions in the proximal colon are more challenging to treat by stent placement due to the increased distance from the anus.CASE SUMMARY This case report concerns an 88-year-old man with malignant intestinal obstruction in the ileocecal region.He was contraindicated for general anesthesia and surgical enterostomy.The placement of a self-expandable metallic stent seems an alternative to surgery,although stenting in this area is thought to be difficult and few studies have been reported so far.After three attempts at different interventional approaches,a stent was successfully placed in the obstructed segment under fluoroscopic guidance.After the procedure,the patient's abdominal distension and abdominal pain were significantly better than before.CONCLUSION For patients with proximal colonic obstruction,self-expandable metallic stent placement under fluoroscopic guidance could be considered as a feasible treatment to relieve abdominal distension and pain in patients with acute bowel obstruction.It has the characteristics of high safety and high patient tolerance.However,further study is still needed.

Does delaying ureteral stent placement lead to higher rates of preoperative acute pyelonephritis during pregnancy?

BACKGROUND Pregnancy with renal colic may cause pyelonephritis,decreased renal function,systemic infection and even shock in pregnant women,and cause premature birth and other adverse pregnancy outcomes.When surgery is necessary,the relationship between timing of the operation and the outcome of the mother and child are not known.AIM To investigate the association between time to ureteral stent placement and clinical outcomes of patients with renal colic during pregnancy.METHODS In this retrospective study,pregnant women with renal colic who underwent surgery were studied.Maternal preoperative acute pyelonephritis(PANP),pregnancy outcome,and length of hospital stay(LOS)were compared between the two groups.RESULTS 100 patients were included in the analysis,median age was 30 years.Median time to ureteral stent placement was 48 h(interquartile range,25-96 h),and 32 patients(32%)were diagnosed with PANP.PANP was closely related to hospitalization costs,re-admission to the hospital due to urinary tract infection after surgery and premature delivery.Multivariate analysis found that stone location and time from pain to admission were related to PANP.CONCLUSION Both early and delayed surgery are safe and effective for the treatment of renal colic during pregnancy.Early surgery may be superior to a delayed procedure due to shorter LOS.For pregnant patients with renal colic,delayed surgery within 48 h is not related to the clinical outcome of the mother and child.However,the time from pain to hospital admission was related to PANP.

Vascular morphological change due to endovascular stent placement for intracranial aneurysm

Objective The purpose of this study was to quantify the vascular angle change due to intracranial stent placement and its effect on hemodynamics. Methods Fifteen patients with a wide-necked anterior communicating artery aneurysm were treated with stent-assisted coiling. Centerlines of the parent vessels were calculated and determined the exact change in

Hepatobiliary complications of alveolar echinococcosis: A long-term follow-up study

AIM:To determine the long-term hepatobiliary complications of alveolar echinococcosis(AE) and treatment options using interventional methods.METHODS:Included in the study were 35 patients with AE enrolled in the Echinococcus Multilocularis Data Bank of the University Hospital of Ulm.Patients underwent endoscopic intervention for treatment of hepatobiliary complications between 1979 and 2012.Patients' epidemiologic data, clinical symptoms, and indications for the intervention, the type of intervention and any additional procedures, hepatic laboratory parameters(pre- and post-intervention), medication and surgical treatment(pre- and post-intervention), as well as complications associated with the intervention and patients‘ subsequent clinical courses were analyzed.In order to compare patients with AE with and without history of intervention, data from an additional 322 patients with AE who had not experienced hepatobiliary complications and had not undergone endoscopic intervention were retrieved and analyzed.RESULTS:Included in the study were 22 male and 13 female patients whose average age at first diagnosis was 48.1 years and 52.7 years at the time of intervention.The average time elapsed between first diagnosis and onset of hepatobiliary complications was 3.7 years.The most common symptoms were jaundice, abdominal pains, and weight loss.Thenumber of interventions per patient ranged from one to ten.Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)was most frequently performed in combination with stent placement(82.9%),followed by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage(31.4%)and ERCP without stent placement(22.9%).In 14.3%of cases,magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography was performed.A total of eight patients received a biliary stent.A comparison of biochemical hepatic function parameters at first diagnosis between patients who had or had not undergone intervention revealed that these were significantly elevated in six patients who had undergone intervention.Complications(cholangitis,pancreatitis)occurred in six patients during and in 12patients following the intervention.The average survival following onset of hepatobiliary complications was 8.8years.CONCLUSION:Hepatobiliary complications occur in about 10%of patients.A significant increase in hepatic transaminase concentrations facilitates the diagnosis.Interventional methods represent viable management options.

Treatment of hepatic venous outflow stenosis after living donor liver transplantation by insertion of an expandable metallic stent

BACKGROUND: Hepatic venous outflow stenosis is an uncommon but serious complication after right lobe living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Failure to recognize and treat this complication early can result in graft failure and even death. The early diagnosis and management of hepatic venous outflow stenosis has become an important issue. METHOD: We report a case with this complication treated by endovascular stent placement in the early period after right lobe LDLT and review related reports to explore the possible mechanism. RESULTS: A 44-year-old man with end-stage hepatitis B liver cirrhosis underwent right lobe LDLT. On postoperative day 13, his liver function deteriorated and he developed refractory ascites for maximal diuretic therapy. Hepatic venography showed a stenosis with an element of torsion of the venous drainage proximal to the anastomosis of the right hepatic venous orifice and inferior vena cava. The stenosis was successfully treated by insertion of an expandable metallic stent. CONCLUSIONS: The result demonstrates that stent placement for stenosis is safe and effective. We suspect that rapid hypertrophy of an asymmetric right lobe graft may result in hepatic venous outflow stenosis caused by twisting or external compression of the hepatic veins.

Treating bilio-duodenal obstruction: Combining new endoscopic technique with 6 Fr stent introducer

Periampullary cancer may cause not only biliary but also duodenal obstructions. In patients with concomitant duodenal obstructions, endoscopic biliary stenting remains technically difficult and may often require percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. We describe a method of metal stent placement via a thin forwardviewing endoscope in patients with simultaneous biliary and duodenal obstruction. In two consecutive patients with biliary and duodenal obstruction due to pancreatic cancer, a new biliary metal stent mounted in a slim delivery catheter was placed via a thin forward viewing endoscope after passage across the duodenal stenosis without balloon dilation. In both patients, with our new placement technique, metallic stents were successfully placed in a short time without adverse events. After biliary stenting, one patient received curative resection and the other received duodenal stenting for palliation. Metallic stent placement with a forward-viewing thin endoscope is a beneficial technique, which can avoid percutaneous drainage in patients with bilio-duodenal obstructions due to periampullary cancer.

Acute myocardial infarction in a young man with ankylosing spondylitis: A case report

BACKGROUND Ankylosing spondylitis(AS)is a chronic progressive inflammatory disease that mainly affects the spine and sacroiliac joints.To the best of our knowledge,AS with acute myocardial infarction(AMI)has rarely been reported.Here,we report an unusual case of AS with AMI in a young patient.CASE SUMMARY A 37-year-old man was admitted to the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of our hospital on March 14,2020,for low back pain.Further evaluation with clinical examinations,laboratory tests,and imaging resulted in a diagnosis of AS.Treatment with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor partially improved his symptoms.However,his back pain persisted.After 6 wk of treatment,he was admitted to the emergency room of another hospital in this city for sudden-onset severe chest pain consistent with a diagnosis of AMI.Angiography revealed severe narrowing of the coronary arteries.Surgical placement of two coronary stents completely relieved his back pain.CONCLUSION AS can cause cardiovascular diseases,including AMI.It is important to consider the cardiovascular risks in the management of AS.

Clinical management for malignant afferent loop obstruction

Afferent loop obstruction(ALO)is defined as duodenal or jejunal mechanical obstruction at the proximal anastomosis site of a gastrojejunostomy.With advances in chemotherapy,the incidence of malignant ALO is increasing.Malignant ALO can be complicated by ischemia,gangrenous bowel,pancreatitis,and ascending cholangitis.Moreover,the general condition of patients with recurrent cancer is often poor.Therefore,accurate and rapid diagnosis and minimally invasive treatments are required.However,no review articles on the diagnosis and treatment of malignant ALO have been published.Through literature searching,we reviewed related articles published between 1959 and 2020 in the PubMed database.Herein,we present recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant ALO and describe future perspectives.Endoscopic transluminal self-expandable metal stent(SEMS)placement is considered the standard treatment for malignant ALO,as this procedure is well established and less invasive.However,with the development of interventional endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)in recent years,the usefulness of EUS-guided gastrojejunostomy has been reported.Moreover,through indirect comparison,this approach has been reported to be superior to transluminal SEMS placement.It is expected that a safer and less invasive treatment method will be established through the continued advancement and innovation of interventional endoscopy techniques.

Shunting,optic nerve sheath fenestration and dural venous stenting for medically refractory idiopathic intracranial hypertension:systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)-diversion procedures have traditionally been the standard of treatment for patients with medically refractive idiopathic intracranial hypertension(IIH).However,dural venous sinus stent(VSS)placement has been described as a safe and effective procedure for the management of medically refractive IIH.We performed a meta-analysis comparing outcomes and complications of CSF-diversion procedures,VSS and optic nerve sheath fenestration(ONSF)for the treatment of medically refractive IIH.Methods:Electronic searches were performed using six databases from 1988 to January 2017.Data was extracted and meta-analysed from the identified studies.Results:From 55 pooled studies,there were 538 CSF-diversion cases,224 dural venous stent placements,and 872 ONSF procedures.Similar improvements were found in terms of postoperative headaches(CSF vs.VSS vs.ONSF:84%vs.78%vs.62%,P=0.223),papilledema(CSF vs.VSS vs.ONSF:71%vs.86%vs.77%,P=0.192),whilst visual acuity changes favored venous stenting(CSF vs.VSS vs.ONSF:55%vs.69%vs.44%,P=0.037).There was a significantly lower rate of subsequent procedures with venous stent placement(CSF vs.VSS vs.ONSF:37%vs.13%vs.18%,P<0.001),but other complication rates were similar(CSF vs.VSS vs.ONSF:13%vs.8%vs.14%,P=0.28).Subgroup analysis of lumbar-peritoneal vs.ventriculoperitoneal shunts found no differences in symptom improvements,complications and subsequent procedure rates.Conclusions:Our findings suggest that dural venous sinus stenting may be a viable alternative to traditional surgical interventions in patients who are refractory to medical treatment.

Clinical application of trans-sinus gastric stent placement and drainage in the management of persistent external pancreatic fistula after minimal access retroperitoneal pancreatic necrosectomy in severe acute pancreatitis patients

Background:Persistent external pancreatic fistula(EPF)in patients with pancreatic duct disruption or disconnection can result from minimal access to retroperitoneal pancreatic necrosectomy(MARPN)in severe acute pancreatitis patients,which is a difficult problem for clinicians and requires a long treatment duration.This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of trans-sinus gastric stent placement and drainage using interventional technology in the management of persistent EPF after MARPN in severe acute pancreatitis.Methods:From August 2018 to December 2020,the data of 9 patients with persistent EPF treated with trans-sinus gastric stent placement and drainage in our hospital were retrospectively collected.The main outcome measures were technical success rate,recurrence rate,new pancreatic fluid collection,morbidity,and mortality.All patients were followed up after the procedure through clinic visits and imaging modalities.Results:The median age of the patients was 46 years(30-61 years).The median persistent EPF duration was 5 months(2-12 months).The median follow-up time was 41 months(range,20-47 months).The median operation time was 48 minutes(range,40-54 minutes),and the technical success rate was 100%.Seven days after treatment,the percutaneous drainage tubes of all patients were removed.Six months after the procedure,2 patients lost the stents,and one of those patients suffered from a pseudocyst,which gradually increased to a maximum diameter of 7 cm over 9 months.Therefore,a double pigtail drainage tube was placed under the guidance of an endoscope.The second of these 2 patients had no recurrence or pseudocyst.Twelve months after the procedure,another 3 patients lost the stents;18 months after the procedure,another 2 patients lost the stents.These patients had no recurrence as well.No other adverse events or deaths occurred during the study period.Conclusion:Trans-sinus tract gastric stent placement and drainage are safe and effective in the treatment of persistent EPF after MARPN in severe acute pancreatitis patients.However,this study had a small sample size and did not include a comparative group.

Case of Fatal Air Embolism during Double‑J Ureteral Stent Placement

Air embolism is a severe and fatal complication,but it is very rare during transurethral surgery.This report describes a case of air embolism during double‑J ureteral stent placement in a 45‑year‑old woman.During ureteroscopy,a sudden decrease in oxygen saturation and end‑expiratory carbon dioxide pressure and cyanosis of the face were observed.Subsequent echocardiography confirmed an air embolism by detecting bubbles in the heart.Despite resuscitative measures,the patient died rapidly.Detailed autopsy was performed to clarify the cause of death and the route of air entering into the circulatory system.The report presented here reminds urologists and pathologists that air embolism can occur during double‑J ureteral stent placement and offers some suggestions regarding identification of air embolism at autopsy.