Endoscopic removal and trimming of distal self-expandable metallic biliary stents

AIM:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic removal and trimming of self-expandable metallic stents(SEMS).METHODS:All SEMS had been placed for distal biliary strictures.Twenty-seven endoscopic procedures were performed in 19 patients in whom SEMS(one uncovered and 18 covered) removal had been attempted,and 8 patients in whom stent trimming using argon plasma coagulation(APC) had been attempted at Tokyo Medical University Hospital.The APC settings were:voltage 60-80 W and gas flow at 1.5 L/min.RESULTS:The mean stent indwelling period for all patients in whom stent removal had been attempted was 113.7 ± 77.6 d(range,8-280 d).Of the 19 patients in whom removal of the SEMS had been attempted,the procedure was successful in 14(73.7%) without procedure-related adverse events.The indwelling period in the stent removable group was shorter than that in the unremovable group(94.9 ± 71.5 d vs 166.2 ± 76.2 d,P = 0.08).Stent trimming was successful for all patients with one minor adverse event consisting of self-limited hemorrhage.Trimming time ranged from 11 to 16 min.CONCLUSION:Although further investigations on larger numbers of cases are necessary to accumulate evidence,the present data suggested that stent removal and stent trimming is feasible and effective for stent-related complications.

Fluoroscopic removal of fractured,retained,embedded Z self-expanding metal stent using a guidewire lasso technique:A case report

BACKGROUND There are few reports of a fractured esophageal self-expanding metallic stent(SEMS)and the lasso retrieval technique,forming a guidewire loop by directing the guidewire back up the external stent for retrieval.CASE SUMMARY A 74-year-old man complained of dysphagia approximately 6 mo after radical resection of esophageal cancer.Benign anastomotic stenosis was diagnosed,and a 20 mm in diameter and 60 mm in length esophageal covered SEMS was inserted after repeated balloon dilatation.About 13.5 mo after stenting,dysphagia recurred and esophagography showed severe stenosis above the proximal stent and stent removal was performed.One-third of the stent was removed and the fractured stent remained in the proximal esophagus.A suction tube was introduced through the guidewire and then the guidewire was grabbed,acting like a“lasso”on tightening.The remaining fractured stent was successfully removed by slowly pulling back the guidewire,with no fragments of stent wires retained.CONCLUSION The guidewire lasso technique is a simple,effective method of removing esophageal SEMS in rare cases of stent fracture.

Removal of metallic stents using flexible bronchoscope:report of 29 cases

Objective:Placement of self expanding metallic stents(SEMS) is invariably associated with complications and often necessitates their removal usually by rigid bronchoscope.There have been few reports published on use of flexible bronchoscope(FB) for the removal.This article summarizes the indications,methods and complications of SEMS removal by FB.Methods:We reviewed our experience with removal of SEMS using FB retrospectively.The clinical data on 29 patients with average age of(39.0±13.2) years was analyzed who underwent removal of SEMS using FB between April 2002 and August 2008.Results:Thirty-seven procedures were performed in 29 consecutive patients to remove 37 stents.The average duration of stent placement was(55± 94.7) d(0-472 d).Twenty-two procedures(59.4%) were performed under local anesthesia.The percentage of procedures under general anesthesia was 13%(3/24),67%(4/6) and 100%(7/7) for the short-term(≤30 d),medium-term(31-90 d) and long-term(>90 d) of stents placement,respectively.Indications for stents removal included migration in 15(40.6%),scar restenosis in 11(29.7%),airway shaping in 5(13.5%),stent fracture in 2(5.4%),stent incomplete expansion in 2(5.4%),improper size in 1(2.7%),mucus plugging with chest pain in 1(2.7%).And 85.7% of long-term stents were removed due to scar restenosis.The total success rate was 92%.There was no significant difference in success rate between the uncovered and covered group(82.3% and 100%,P>0.05).Complications were encountered in 13 patients,bleeding being the most common(53.8%).Conclusion:Operation by FB may be an alternative method to remove SEMS effectively and safely based on the proper anesthesia chosen.

Biliary drainage of the common bile duct with an enteral metal stent

In this case report we present an elderly patient who was referred to our hospital with recurrent episodes of cholangitis that persisted after placement of fi ve metal stents for a distal common bile duct(CBD) stenosis.All metal stents were endoscopically removed from the CBD by forceps after balloon dilatation of the papilla.A profoundly dilated CBD with sludge and concrements was seen.To ensure adequate bile drainage an enteral metal stent was inserted in the CBD.This case shows that proximally migrated uncovered metal stents in the CBD can be safely removed endoscopically under certain circumstances.We suggest that in the case of a CBD drainage problem due to an extremely dilated CBD,placement of an enteral metal stent in the CBD could be considered,especially in patients who are unfi t for surgery.

The"ins and outs"of the magnetic ureteral stent:A novel innovation in Endourology

Background:Ureteral stents play a major role in maintaining ureteral patency.Various innovations are advocated in the design and subsequent removal of traditional double-J ureteral stents,such as the magnetic-end double-J ureteral stent(MEDJUS).This stent facilitates outpatient removal using a magnetic stent removal device.This systematic review was conducted to analyze the published role,efficacy,and outcomes of MEDJUS.Materials and methods:After PROSPERO registration(CRD42021235739),an electronic database search(PubMed,EMBASE,Cochrane Library,Scopus,and Web of Science)was performed on December 31,2020.The search terms were as follows:"magnetic,""ureteric,""stent,""double-J,""urotech,"and"Black-Star."Results:Nine studies with atotalof 685 patients wereincluded in the systematic review.The totalnumber of MEDJUS procedures used was 498(73%)compared to the 187(27%)traditional double-J stent method.Magnetic-end double-J ureteral stent extraction failure was reported in 8 cases(1.61%).Compared with traditional stents,MEDJUS showed a cost benefit in 5/5 studies.Better pain scores(during stent in situ)and(at stent removal)were observed in 2/3 and 3/4 of the studies,respectively.Conclusions:Magnetic-end double-J ureteral stent may serve as a viable alternative to traditional double-J stents,offering cost and pain benefits with similar rates of complications.Magnetic-end double-J ureteral stent also offers relative ease of extraction and a reduced need for inpatient removal.This ambulatory stent removal technique has forged its use in modern urological practice.