Lumen-apposing covered self-expanding metal stent for management of benign gastrointestinal strictures

Background and aims: Self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) are safe and effective for endoscopic management of malignant gastrointestinal strictures, but there is limited experience with their use in refractory benign strictures. We assessed the use of a new lumen-apposing covered SEMS for the management of benign gastrointestinal strictures.

Methods: A single-center case-series of five patients who underwent lumen-apposing covered SEMS placement for benign gastrointestinal strictures.

Results: Three patients had a benign gastroduodenal stricture, one had a distal colonic anastomotic stricture, and one with complete gastrojejunal anastomotic stenosis underwent endoscopic creation of a new gastrojejunostomy. None of the patients developed any immediate or delayed stent-related adverse events. In two patients, the stents were left in place indefinitely. Stents were removed from the other three patients with successful resolution of their symptoms during follow-up.

Conclusion: Lumen-apposing, fully covered SEMS appear to be safe and effective for management of selected benign gastrointestinal strictures.

Introduction

Endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) is a common initial treatment for benign gastrointestinal strictures, and is safe and effective in the short-term, but often requires multiple sessions, and strictures frequently recur [1] [2]. Fully covered self-expanding metal stents (fcSEMS) relieve the symptoms of refractory benign gastrointestinal strictures [3], but stent migration and intolerance are major limitations [4] [5], and strictures frequently recur after stent removal [6].

Lumen-apposing fully covered SEMS (LA-SEMS) consist of a barbell-shaped, flexible nitinol stent designed for deployment through a therapeutic linear echoendoscope ([Fig. 1 a]). In this series, we describe the use of LA-SEMS for the management of selected benign gastrointestinal strictures and discuss the benefits and limitations of this approach.

Fig. 1 a The lumen-apposing, double-flanged, fully-covered SEMS. b The delivery system of the stent inserted through a forward viewing gastroscope with a therapeutic channel. Notice that the assistant needs to stabilize the shaft of the delivery system of the stent, and that deploying the stent with a forward-viewing gastroscope requires two operators.

Case series

We retrospectively identified all cases of benign gastrointestinal luminal stenosis treated with placement of a LA-SEMS (Axios 15 mm; Xlumena, Mountain View, CA, USA) at our institution between November 2014 and April 2015, and reviewed patient medical records and images. The protocol was approved by the Mayo Clinic Rochester IRB.

Case 1

A 45-year-old woman was referred for treatment of a benign pyloric stricture which had recurred after prior EBD. An upper gastrointestinal series demonstrated a short stricture of the pyloric channel which could not be traversed endoscopically ([Fig. 2 a], [Fig. 2 b]). Under fluoroscopic guidance, a LA-SEMS was deployed across the pyloric stenosis and dilated to 15 mm ([Fig. 2 c]). Her symptoms resolved, and the stent was removed endoscopically 3 months later ([Fig. 2 d]). The previously strictured area was widely patent and allowed easy passage of the endoscope. Symptoms have not recurred during 3 months of follow-up after stent removal.

Fig. 2 a Contrast study demonstrating the stricture. b Endoscopic view of the stricture. c The proximal flange was opened inside the gastric antrum. d At 3-month follow-up, the stent was easily removed by grasping the proximal end with a rat-tooth forceps.

Case 2

A 24-year-old woman with a history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass was referred for management of a gastrojejunostomy stricture. EBD at another hospital had been complicated by contained perforation. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) showed a 4-cm long anastomotic stricture ( [Fig. 3 a], [Fig. 3 b]). Initially, an 18-mm × 15.3-cm fcSEMS was placed which was removed after 1 month due to non-tolerance, and a symptomatic stricture subsequently recurred. An LA-SEMS was placed with the proximal flange in the gastric pouch, and the distal flange partially opened within the stricture ( [Fig. 3 c]). To fully bridge the long stricture, a second LA-SEMS stent was placed in an overlapping fashion ([Fig. 3 d]), and both stents were dilated to 15 mm. A follow-up upper gastrointestinal series and EGD at 6 weeks showed a widely patent gastrojejunostomy with excellent stent position ([Fig. 3 e], [Fig. 3 f]). In view of high surgical risk, a shared decision was made to leave the two LA-SEMS in place indefinitely. During 3 months of follow-up, she continues to be symptom-free.

Fig. 3 a Contrast-study demonstrating the anastomotic stricture. b Endoscopic view of the stricture. c The distal flange of the stent was partially opened inside the Roux limb stricture. d To fully bridge the 4-cm ischemic stricture, a second stent was placed inside the first one, with the distal flange of the stent in the jejunum and the proximal flange inside the lumen of the first stent. e A follow-up upper gastrointestinal series after 6 weeks showed a widely patent gastrojejunostomy with free flow of contrast to the Roux limb. f Endoscopic view demonstrating excellent stent position at follow-up endoscopy.

Case 3

A 51-year-old woman presented for management of an anastomotic leak. She had previously undergone bariatric Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and subsequent revision gastrojejunostomy. EGD showed an edematous gastric pouch and complete anastomotic stenosis precluding access to the jejunum ([Fig. 4 a]). A single-balloon enteroscope was inserted into the excluded distal stomach via an existing gastrostomy tube, and advanced in a retrograde fashion to the anastomosis ([Fig. 4 b]). A curvilinear echoendoscope was advanced via the mouth to meet the enteroscope in a rendezvous fashion. The Roux limb was distended with water and punctured under endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guidance, and the tract was balloon dilated to 6 mm. A LA-SEMS was placed to create a new gastrojejunal anastomosis ([Fig. 4 c], [Fig. 4 d]). A contrast study showed no extravasation ([Fig. 4 e]). The vertical staple line leak was closed with an over-the-scope clip. The LA-SEMS was removed at 8 weeks ([Fig. 4 f]). Twelve weeks later, the patient was eating well with no symptoms.

Fig. 4 a Contrast study demonstrating anastomotic leak at the gastric vertical staple line and complete gastrojejunostomy stricture. b Rendezvous endoscopic approach with single-balloon enteroscope inserted via the excluded stomach. c The echolinear EUS scope was simultaneously advanced to the gastric pouch. d Lumen-apposing, double-flanged, fully-covered SEMS, 15 mm in diameter, was deployed to create a new gastrojejunal anastomosis. e Contrast injection showing excellent seal of this newly created anastomosis with good flow of contrast into the Roux limb. f Stent endoscopically removed at 8 weeks demonstrating well-healed patent anastomosis.

Case 4

An 83-year-old woman presented for treatment of a pyloric channel peptic stricture which had recurred after EBD. EGD revealed a short pyloric stricture, with a luminal diameter of less than 1 mm ([Fig. 5 a]). She was deemed a high risk surgical candidate due to her advanced age and poor nutritional status. A LA-SEMS was placed and the stent lumen was dilated to 12 mm ([Fig. 5 b],[Fig. 5 c], [Fig. 5 d]). She continued to do well 12 weeks after the procedure, with the intent to keep the stent in place indefinitely.

Fig. 5 a Short, tight, benign gastroduodenal stricture. b, c Endoscopic view of lumen-apposing, double-flanged, fully covered SEMS in the pyloric channel. d Stent lumen dilated to an internal diameter of 12 mm using a wire-guided hydrostatic dilation balloon.

Case 5

A 34-year-old man with a past history of sigmoid colectomy with an end-to-side colorectostomy was admitted for management of bowel obstruction secondary to a benign anastomotic stricture. Colonoscopy revealed a severely narrowed, short stricture at the anastomotic site ([Fig. 6 a]). We opted to place a LA-SEMS, since a longer stent would potentially have a higher likelihood of migration and cause excessive patient discomfort due to stent proximity to the anal verge ([Fig. 6 b], [Fig. 6 c]). The lumen of the stent was dilated up to 12 mm ([Fig. 6 d]). The obstruction was relieved and the patient subsequently underwent low anterior resection with diverting loop ileostomy.

Fig. 6 a Endoscopic view of the tight anastomotic stricture. b Fluoroscopic image showing guidewire placement before stent deployment. c Endoscopic view of the proximal stent flange immediately after deployment. d Final stent position after balloon dilation of the SEMS lumen to 12 mm.

Discussion

We found that LA-SEMS were effective and safe for the treatment of a variety of benign gastrointestinal stenoses. The stents were easy to deploy and remove, well tolerated, and did not migrate. In contrast to repeated EBD for difficult strictures, patients in this series required at most two endoscopies, and the fully covered stents potentially mitigate the risk of perforation associated with endoscopic treatment.

Several studies have described the use of SEMS for the management of benign gastrointestinal strictures [4] [7] [8] [9]. The technical success of SEMS placement in these series approaches 100 % with reported clinical success rates of 80 – 90 % [4] [7] [8] [9]. Although there are no randomized clinical trials comparing SEMS to EBD, the clinical response to SEMS appears to be more durable compared to EBD alone [9]. Moreover, SEMS can be effective in refractory cases that have failed previous EBD [9] [10]. A retrospective study of 10 patients with pyloric stenosis treated with SEMS reported 90 % clinical success rate over a mean follow-up of 11 months, with half of the patients having previously failed EBD [9].

Common adverse events associated with fcSEMS placed for benign strictures include migration and intolerance. A study of 22 patients with benign pyloric channel strictures treated with fcSEMS reported a migration rate of 63 % [4]. Partially covered SEMS have a lower migration rate, but are more difficult to remove due to tissue ingrowth [9]. Reported migration rates of SEMS in benign colorectal strictures range from 31 % to 60 % [11] [12]. A concern with the use of traditional SEMS for benign strictures, especially colonic, is the increased risk of perforation. In a meta-analysis of 4086 patients who underwent colorectal stent placement, the perforation rate was significantly higher for benign compared with malignant strictures (18.4 % vs. 7.5 %) [13].

LA-SEMS designed for EUS-guided deployment have design features making them suitable for treatment of benign strictures [14] [15]. Anti-migratory flanges, short saddle, and moderate radial force may decrease the risk of migration and improve patient tolerance, allowing for a longer duration of therapy. In our series, none of the patients developed any stent-related symptoms and, in two patients, the stents were left in place permanently. Design modifications would enhance the use of LA-SEMS for management of benign gastrointestinal strictures. The current delivery system is optimized for delivery during EUS, and when deployed via a forward-viewing therapeutic channel endoscope, the stent’s deployment handle requires stabilization by a second operator to prevent inadvertent deployment of the entire stent distal to the stricture ( [Fig.1 b]). A range of saddle lengths and larger stent diameters would improve the applicability of these devices.

The limitations of our study include the small number of patients, absence of a control group, subjective interpretation of clinical outcomes, and short duration of follow-up. Despite these limitations, our series adds to the one previous case report [16] describing the use of LA-SEMS in a benign stricture, and demonstrates the feasibility and potential safety and efficacy of LA-SEMS for management of various types of benign gastrointestinal stenoses. Prospective comparative trials of conventional SEMS, LA-SEMS, and balloon dilatation are warranted.

Competing interests: None

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