Self-Expanding Metallic Stent Fracture in the Treatment of Malignant Biliary Obstruction

A Risk Prediction Model for Post-endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Pancreatitis After Stent Insertion for Malignant Biliary Obstruction: Development and Validation

OBJECTIVES

Pancreatitis is the most common complication of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). There are currently no prediction models, particularly for post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) after biliary stent placement due to malignant biliary obstruction (MBO). To that end, we aim to develop and validate a predictive model for PEP.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients who underwent ERCP for biliary stent placement due to MBO at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from January 1, 2014 to August 31, 2021. The eligible patients were randomly allocated to the development and validation cohorts. A prediction model was built using the development cohort, and the model's effect was validated using a validation cohort.

RESULTS

A total of 1524 patients were enrolled, including 1016 in the development cohort and 508 in the validation cohort, with an overall PEP rate of 7.1%. The model's predictors included acute pancreatitis history, the absence of pancreatic duct dilation, nonpancreatic cancer, difficult cannulation, and pancreatic injection. The area under the curve (AUC) in the development cohort was 0.810, and the incidence of PEP in the low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk groups was 1.53%, 9.12%, and 36.36%, respectively. Meanwhile, the AUC of the validation cohort was 0.781, and the incidence of PEP in the low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk groups was 4.17%, 8.75%, and 41.67%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study was the first to build and validate a risk prediction model, especially for PEP after biliary stent placement due to MBO. Moreover, this model might assist clinicians in identifying high-risk patients and help implement preventive measures in a more timely manner.

Fracture of self-expandable metallic stent inserted for unresectable gastric cancer at the esophagogastric junction: successful retrieval of distal fragment by gastrotomy

Endoscopic stenting is useful for amelioration of gastrointestinal stenosis. This procedure benefits severely compromised patients who cannot afford surgery. Although the self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) is safe, it is also associated with several complications such as perforation, migration, and fracture. Migration of a SEMS is not particularly rare; however, fracture of a SEMS is relatively rare. An 88-year-old man underwent stenting for dysphagia at another hospital. He was being treated for gastric cancer at the esophagogastric junction. After appropriate stenting, he regained his ability to eat and was discharged the hospital. Only 2 months later, however, he again lost his ability to eat and visited our hospital. Abdominal X-ray and computed tomography revealed a stent fracture. The proximal fragment was in the esophagus, and the distal fragment was in the stomach. An emergency operation involving gastrotomy and gastrostomy was performed. Open gastrotomy was performed to remove the fractured distal stent, and percutaneous tube gastrostomy was placed through the same gastric incision for nutrition support. The surgery was successful, and he was again able to eat. In this report, we discuss the occurrence of SEMS fracture within a short time periods after insertion.