Teruyuki Kane

Polyorethaoe-covered nitinol strecker stents as primary palliative treatment of malignant biliary obstruction

AbstractPurpose: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of the polyure-thane-covered Nitinol Strecker stent in the treatment of patients with malignant biliary obstruction. Methods: Twenty-three covered stents produced by us were placed in 18 patients with malignant biliary obstruction. Jaundice was caused by cholangiocarcinoma (n=5), pancreatic Cancer (n=6), gallbladder Cancer (n=4), metastatic lymph nodes (n=2), and tumor of the papilla (n=1). Resulrs: The mean patency period of the Stents was 37.5 weeks (5–106 weeks). Recurrent obstructive jaundice occurred in two patients (11%). Adequate biliary drainage over 50 weeks or until death was achieved in 17 of 18 patients (94.4%). Late cholangitis was observed in two patients whose stents bridged the ampulla of Vater. Other late severe complications were not encountered. Conclusion: Although more study is necessary, our results suggest the clinical efficacy of our covered Nitinol Strecker stent in the management of obstructive jaundice caused by malignant diseases.

Evaluation of clinical features of ischemic colitis: Comparison between young and elderly

Background: It has been thought that ischemic colitis is caused by vascular and intestinal factors. Although elderly patients with arteriosclerosis are more susceptible to ischemic colitis, many young patients suffering ischemic colitis are also reported. The present study aimed to clarify the relationship between arteriosclerosis and ischemic colitis, and to evaluate various risk factors for ischemic colitis.