CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Endosc Int Open 2022; 10(03): E238-E245
DOI: 10.1055/a-1729-0104
Original article

The role of a novel self-expanding metal stent in variceal bleeding: a multicenter Australian and New Zealand experience

Saad Khan
 1   Department of Gastroenterology and Liver Transplant Unit, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
 2   Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
,
Rajit Gilhotra
 2   Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
,
Caroline Di Jiang
 3   Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand
,
David Rowbotham
 4   Department of Gastroenterology, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, Western Australia
,
Andre Chong
 5   AW Morrow Gastroenterology and Liver Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
,
Avik Majumdar
 5   AW Morrow Gastroenterology and Liver Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
,
Campbell White
 6   Department of Gastroenterology, Taranaki Base Hospital, Taranaki District Health Board, New Zealand
,
Alex Huelsen
 7   Department of Gastroenterology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
,
Jim Brooker
 8   Department of Gastroenterology, Waikato District Health Board, Hamilton, New Zealand
,
James O’Beirne
 9   Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
,
Cameron Schauer
10   Department of Gastroenterology, Middlemore Hospital, Counties Manukau District Health Board, Auckland Hospital, New Zealand
,
Marios Efthymiou
 1   Department of Gastroenterology and Liver Transplant Unit, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
,
Rhys Vaughan
 1   Department of Gastroenterology and Liver Transplant Unit, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
,
Sujievvan Chandran
 1   Department of Gastroenterology and Liver Transplant Unit, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Background and study aims Refractory variceal bleeding is associated with high mortality in patients with chronic liver disease. A fully-covered self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) has been reported to have excellent rates of technical success and initial bleeding control; however, studies to date are small and limited to Europe and Asia. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this SEMS for control of refractory variceal bleeding (VB).

Patients and methods A retrospective analysis was undertaken of all patients who received the SX-ELLA Danis SEMS for management of VB at 9 tertiary centers across Australia and New Zealand. A total of 32 SEMS had been deployed in 30 patients (median age 53.3).

Results Technical success of SEMS placement was achieved in 100 % of cases, resulting in immediate control of bleeding across 31 of 32 cases (96.9 %). Re-bleeding with SEMS in situ occurred in three of 32 cases (9.4 %). Mean SEMS in-dwelling time was 6.4 days. Delayed SEMS migration occurred in 6.3 % of cases. Interventional radiological therapy for management of varices within 6 weeks was performed in 12 of 30 patients (40 %). Death with SEMS in situ occurred in seven of 30 patients (23.3 %). Seven-day bleeding-related mortality was 16.7 %, 14-day mortality 23.3 %, and 6-week mortality 33.3 %. Three of 30 patients (10 %) received orthotopic liver transplantation following SEMS insertion, including two patients within 6 weeks.

Conclusions SX-Danis Ella SEMS is highly effective for immediate control of refractory VB and bridging to definitive therapy because it has excellent technical success rates, appears to be relatively easy to use, and has low rates of serious adverse events.



Publication History

Received: 15 February 2021

Accepted after revision: 19 October 2021

Article published online:
14 March 2022

© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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