A new type of biliary stent was inserted in 45 patients with symptomatic biliary strictures, 40 malignant and five benign. The stent is made of stainless steel woven into a tubular mesh. It is introduced in compressed form on a 7- or 9-F delivery catheter and released at the site of the stricture. Fully open, the stent has an internal diameter of 1 cm. The 30-day mortality was 7%. The early (less than 72 hours) complication rate was 16%. Recurrent jaundice occurred in 42%; late complications of sepsis without jaundice occurred in an additional 11%. None of the stents migrated. This new design allows a large-diameter stent to be inserted percutaneously without increased risk of complications. The frequency of recurrent jaundice, however, was not less than that observed with plastic stents, but this may have reflected the spectrum of patients treated, many with hilar strictures and previous interventions.

A new type of endovascular prosthesis was inserted in 28 animals and evaluated for several factors, including thrombogenicity, tendency to migrate, critical implant zones, and incorporation into the vascular wall. The new prosthesis is a woven, multifilament structure of stainless steel alloy; its inherent elastic, self-expanding characteristics hold it against the vessel walls. Forty-seven endoprostheses (3-5 mm in diameter, 15-50 mm long) were percutaneously implanted with either a 6-F introducer sheath, a coaxial 9-F catheter, or a 0.014-inch (0.036-cm) guide wire into the femoropopliteal, coronary, carotid, and renal arteries and iliac veins. Anticoagulant or platelet antiaggregating agents were not used before or after implantation. Angiographic and histologic analyses showed that the prosthesis had a very low thrombogenicity when it was well adapted to the native vessel diameter and that it was incorporated into the vessel wall by a new intima by the 3d week after implantation. No migration occurred, and branch vessel flow was preserved even in those vessels in which ostia were traversed by the prosthesis. This prosthesis has potential for clinical application in the treatment of postangioplasty restenoses, particularly in the coronary arteries.

No abstract

We describe a new urethral stent which was implanted into 12 patients with urethral strictures. The stent is woven in the form of a tubular mesh from fine stainless steel wire and is self-expanding when released from its small diameter delivery catheter. All patients have been treated successfully, with a good calibre urethra visible on urethrography and direct endoscopy and with improved urine flow rates. The mean follow-up of these patients was 7 months (range 2-13). Urethroscopy demonstrated complete epithelial covering of the implant in 4 to 6 months. Although the follow-up period was short, it seems that this simple technique may offer a lasting treatment for many urethral strictures. A longer follow-up will be necessary to exclude late complications.

We describe a new urethral stent, originally developed for endovascular use, that we have implanted into 8 patients with urethral strictures. The stent is woven in the form of a tubular mesh from surgical grade stainless steel wire and is self-expanding when released from its small diameter delivery catheter. All patients have been treated successfully with a good caliber urethra visible on urethrography and direct endoscopy, and with improved urine flow rates. Mean followup of these patients is 8 months (range 6 months to 1 year). Urethroscopy had demonstrated complete epithelial covering of the implant at 4 to 6 months. Although the followup is short it seems that this simple technique may offer a lasting treatment for many urethral strictures.