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DOI: 10.1055/a-2545-2440
Safe and reliable removal of a migrated biliary metal stent with a snare placed over the balloon using the two-devices-in-one-channel method
Metal stents are useful for the palliative treatment of malignant biliary stenosis (MBS); however, they can occasionally migrate, complicating removal. Stent removal is often performed using the rat tooth forceps, snares, basket, and balloon catheter [1] [2] [3], but the efficacy and reliability of these methods are limited. This video demonstrates the successful removal of a migrated stent using the two-devices-in-one-channel method, with a snare positioned over a balloon catheter.
A 55-year-old woman with obstructive jaundice caused by pancreatic head cancer underwent the placement of a metal stent and was being treated with chemotherapy. A fully covered metal stent (Φ8 mm × 6 cm; Taewoong Medical Co., Ltd, Goyang-si, South Korea) was inserted ([Fig. 1]).
On the day of her visit, she had epigastric pain and fever. Diagnostic evaluation revealed stent migration and cholangitis, and an emergency endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed on the same day. The migrated metal stent was positioned above the distal MBS ([Fig. 2]). Our attempt at removing the metal stent using a balloon catheter was unsuccessful, as tumor compression impaired device maneuverability, making it difficult to control the rat tooth forceps. The procedure was temporarily discontinued after insertion of an endoscopic nasobiliary drainage tube.
During the second ERCP attempt, the snare was positioned over the balloon, and the balloon portion was inserted into the stent. Inflating the balloon within the stent enabled the reliable deployment of the snare outside the stent, where it securely grasped the stent and the balloon. Both the stent and balloon were subsequently withdrawn after deflating the balloon ([Fig. 3], [Fig. 4], [Video 1]).
Quality:
This technique employed the combined application of a balloon dilation catheter and a snare, providing a reliable method that did not require specialized devices. This approach may serve as a valuable method for stent removal.
Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_TTT_1AR_2AZ
E-Videos is an open access online section of the journal Endoscopy, reporting on interesting cases and new techniques in gastroenterological endoscopy. All papers include a high-quality video and are published with a Creative Commons CC-BY license. Endoscopy E-Videos qualify for HINARI discounts and waivers and eligibility is automatically checked during the submission process. We grant 100% waivers to articles whose corresponding authors are based in Group A countries and 50% waivers to those who are based in Group B countries as classified by Research4Life (see: https://www.research4life.org/access/eligibility/).
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Publication History
Article published online:
12 March 2025
© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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References
- 1 Wu C, Yang J, Xu M. et al. Endoscopic removal of a proximally migrated biliary metallic stent. Endoscopy 2017; 49: E99-100
- 2 Li MKK, Sze KK, Tong TYH. Successful retrieval of migrated and embedded fully covered self-expanding metal stent using “snare and lithotripter” technique. Endoscopy 2023; 55: E390-E391
- 3 Cho NJ, Lee TH, Park SH. et al. Endoscopic removal of a proximally migrated metal stent during balloon sweeping after stent trimming. Clin Endosc 2013; 46: 418-422