Isabel Pinto

Malignant Gastric and Duodenal Stenosis: Palliation by Peroral Implantation of a Self-Expanding Metallic Stent

AbstractPurpose: To assess the use of self-expanding metallic stents in patients with inoperable malignant antrum-pylorus-duodenal obstruction. Methods: Six patients underwent implantation of a Wallstent self-expanding metallic endoprosthesis (20 mm in five patients and 16 mm in one). In five patients a catheter (Berenstein) was introduced perorally into the stomach. A guidewire (Terumo) was introduced through the catheter and advanced through the antrum-pylorus-duodenal stenosis. The guidewire was removed and a 260-cm-long, 0.035″ superstiff guide (Amplatz) was introduced. After the catheter was removed the stent assembly was introduced. In the last patient the stent was implanted through a percutaneous gastrostomy. Results: Treatment of inoperable gastric outlet obstruction caused by tumor compression is difficult and unsatisfactory. Peroral implantation of self-expanding metallic stents resulted in successful palliative therapy of antrum-pylorus-duodenal stenosis in six patients in whom surgery was not possible because of advanced disease and poor general condition. On average, patients were able to eat during 41 days. One patient is tolerating oral intake at 3 months. Conclusion: Implantation of stents resulted in palliative relief of malignant antrum-pylorus-duodenal obstructions.

Nasolacrimal polyurethane stent : Complications with CT correlation

AbstractPurpose: To evaluate initial results in patients with epiphora secondary to obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct treated by placement of a polyurethane stent, and to discuss the technical problems and complications arising during the procedure, with visualization of the anatomy of the drainage apparatus using computed tomography (CT). Methods: We inserted 20 polyurethane Song stents under fluoroscopic guidance after dacryocystography in 19 patients with grade 3–4 epiphora caused by idiopathic obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct. CT scans were obtained following stent placement in all patients. Results: We focus on the technical problems and complications that arose during these procedures. During negotiation of the guidewire past the obstruction at the level of the junction of the duct with the lacrimal sac, the guidewire created a false passage in a posterior suborbital direction in two cases and towards the posterior midline in another. In all cases the guidewire was withdrawn and reinserted through the proper anatomic route without further difficulty or complications. In two cases the stent was improperly positioned wholly or partially outside the nasolacrimal system (one medially, one posteriorly). In one case the stent was removed and reinserted; in the other it remains in place and functional. CT was performed in all these cases to ensure proper anatomic alignment and determine what had gone wrong. The epiphora was completely resolved in 13 cases and partially relieved in four; there were three cases of stent obstruction. Epistaxis of short duration (1 hr) occurred in seven patients and headache in one. Conclusions: Treatment of epiphora with polyurethane stents is a technique that is well tolerated by patients and achieves a high success rate, yet problems in placement may be encountered. Though no major consequences for patients are involved, cognizance of such difficulties is important to avoid incorrect positioning of stents.

Nasolacrimal stents in the treatment of epiphora: long-term results.

PURPOSE Assessment of the long-term results achieved with use of nasolacrimal stents in the treatment of epiphora caused by obstruction of the lacrimal apparatus. The role of stents in treating this condition is evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS From February 1997 to April 1999, a total of 89 procedures to insert nasolacrimal stents were performed in 77 patients (20 men, 57 women; mean age, 53 years). A total of 79 stents were successfully implanted, with 10 failures (11.2%). Postprocedural course was followed for 16-38 months (mean, 27 mo) by means of clinical examinations and/or periodic dacryocystography, with removal of occluded stents. On conclusion of the study in September 2000, dacryocystography was performed in all patients in whom stents were still in place. RESULTS Of the 79 stents deployed, two were lost, two had to be excluded from the study, 45 (60%) ceased to function, and 30 (40%) remained patent. Median duration of stent patency of these 79 stents was 20 months. Mean time to occlusion was 9.2 months for all obstructed stents; 4.4 months for improperly placed stents (via a trajectory outside the normal lacrimal drainage apparatus) and 12.2 months for stents that appeared to have been inserted properly. Of the 45 occluded stents, 40 were removed and five were left in place. Upon removal, adherence of the stents to the lacrimal apparatus was frequently observed. CONCLUSIONS The low patency rate and the difficulties encountered in removing nasolacrimal stents during the course of long-term placement calls into question the efficacy of this method as a definitive treatment for epiphora caused by obstruction of the lacrimal drainage system, although studies comparing this and other treatment modalities are needed. Assessment of temporary stent placement may be in order.

Treatment of a urinoma and a post-traumatic pseudoaneurysm using selective arterial embolization

We report a case of severe renal trauma giving rise to a pseudoaneurysm of a renal branch artery and a large urinoma secondary to fracture of a calix disconnected from the rest of the collecting system. Both conditions were successfully treated using selective arterial embolization.

Embolización de arterias uterinas como tratamiento de miomas sintomáticos

Objectives: 1. To measure the effectiveness of embolization of the uterine arteries for the short and mid-term control of vaginal bleeding due to uterine myoma. 2. To evaluate the safety of the procedure and analyze is complications. Material and methods: The study population consisted of 40 women referred consecutively from gynecology clinics who underwent embolization of the uterine arteries. All had bleeding uterine myomas and were eligible for hysterectomy. Patients who wished to conserve their fertility, women with myomas over 10 cm in diameter, surgical contraindications, or allergy to iodide contrast agents were excluded. The main variables measured in relation to the objectives were postembolization control of bleeding and the frequency and type of complications related with the intervention. Results: The embolization of both uterine arteries was tecnically successful in 87.3% (35/40). Clinical success, or cessation of bleeding, was evaluated in 36 patients at 36 months of follow-up and was 86.3% (31/36). The most frequent complication during the procedure was vasospasm of the uterine arteries, 17.5% (10/40), and during postoperative follow-up, postembolization syndrome, 25% (10/40). Conclusions: Embolization of the uterine arteries is a safe treatment that can be an alternative therapy to hysterectomy in patients with uterine myoma with vaginal bleeding.