Preliminary experience of the use of a self-expanding nititol stent in refractory variceal bleeding: a real-world study

• Published in: Revista española de enfermedades digestivas Vol. 116; no. 9; p. 516
• Main Authors: García García, María Desirée, Valdés Delgado, Teresa, Fernández Álvarez, Paula, Lara Romero, Carmen, Grande Santamaría, Lourdes, Núñez Sousa, Maria Cinta, García de la Borbolla Serres, Jesús, Rodríguez-Téllez, Manuel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Spanish
• Published: Spain Sociedad Espanola de Patologia Digestivas 01.09.2024
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Alloys; Esophageal and Gastric Varices - complications; Esophageal and Gastric Varices - surgery; Esophageal and Gastric Varices - therapy; Female; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - etiology; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - therapy; Humans; Hypertension, Portal - complications; Male; Middle Aged; Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic; Self Expandable Metallic Stents; Stents - adverse effects; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1130-0108
• DOI: 10.17235/reed.2023.10035/2023

The fully-covered self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) has a role in the management of refractory acute variceal haemorrhage. The aim of this study was to evaluate its effectiveness and complications in real-world practice. An observational, descriptive, multicenter study was carried out. Eight patients with clinically significant portal hypertension who underwent a SEMS were included. SEMS placement controlled acute bleeding in 7 patients with technical success. Stents were removed after a median of 8 days. Rescue transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt was performed around 48 hours after SEMS placement. Four patients survived after successful SEMS removal. The most common adverse event was stent loop in 2 patients. In our experience, SEMS was highly effective in controlling acute refractory variceal bleeding. Bleeding-related mortality rate was probably due to impossibility of TIPS implantation. Stent loop was a common limiting factor.