Purpose: This study was designed to assess the clinical efficacy of stent insertion with high intensity-focused ultrasound ablation (HIFUA) in patients with malignant biliary obstruction (MBO) as a consequence of pancreatic carcinoma (PC). Materials and Methods:This was a single-center, open-label, prospective, randomized controlled trial. Consecutive patients with MBO caused by PC were randomly assigned to undergo stent insertion with or without HIFUA from June 2019 to February 2020. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03962478).Results: In total, 92 patients were enrolled in this study and assigned to the stent-only (n = 46) or combined (stent+HIFUA; n = 46) treatment groups. Stent insertion was associated with a 100% technical success rate. For patients in the combination treatment group, 26, 18, and 2 patients underwent 2, 3, and 4 cycles of HIFUA, respectively. A positive clinical response to HIFUA treatment was noted in 38 patients (82.6%). Stent dysfunction was detected in 9 and 15 patients in the combination and stent-only groups, respectively (P = 0.154), while median stent patency in these 2 groups was 188 and 120 days, respectively (P < 0.001). All patients died over the course of the followup, with median survival periods of 218 and 140 days in the combination and stent-only treatment groups, respectively (P = 0.001). The only detected predictor of prolonged survival was HIFUA treatment (P = 0.004), and there were no significant differences in complication rates between these 2 treatment groups. Conclusion:A combination of stent insertion and HIFUA can improve stent patency and overall survival in patients suffering from MBO because of PC relative to stent insertion alone.

Purpose: To assess the safety and clinical effectiveness of catheter aspiration with recanalization in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) and inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis.Materials and Methods: Between January 2010 and December 2017, 33 patients with BCS and IVC thrombosis were treated by catheter aspiration with IVC recanalization in our center. A 12 F angled-tip guiding catheter was used for the aspiration of thrombi in the IVC. Recanalization was conducted following thrombi aspiration. Rates of technical success, clinical success and long-term patency were calculated.Results: Catheter aspiration with IVC recanalization was technically successful in all patients. After aspiration, no thrombi were detectable by IVC venography in 21 patients, while residual mural thrombi were found in 12 patients. IVC balloon dilation was performed in 18 patients, while stent insertion was performed in 15 patients. We also achieved clinical success in all patients. Symptomatic and asymptomatic pulmonary embolism were found in 1 patient each, respectively. The cumulative 1-, 3-, and 5-year patency rates were 93.6%, 93.6%, and 83.2%, respectively. All patients remained alive during the follow-up.Conclusions: Catheter aspiration with recanalization is a safe and efficacious approach to treating patients with BCS and IVC thrombosis.

Introduction Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is an approach that is used to alleviate portal hypertension-related symptoms. The optimal stent diameter for TIPS remains controversial. Aim To assess outcomes in patients who underwent TIPS using 8 mm and 10 mm stents. Material and methods The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were queried for all pertinent studies. The meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan v5.3. This meta-analysis was registered at the PROSPERO website (Number: CRD42020212392). Results Eighty-two potentially relevant articles were initially detected, with seven of these ultimately being included in this meta-analysis. Patients in the 10 mm stent group exhibited a significantly higher Δ portosystemic pressure gradient ( Δ PPG) relative to the 8 mm group (p = 0.04), whereas no differences between groups were observed with respect to postoperative hepatic encephalopathy (HE, p = 0.25), re-bleeding (p = 0.82), liver transplantation (p = 0.45), or mortality (p = 0.43) rates. The TIPS dysfunction rate was significant lower in the 10 mm group (p = 0.01). In Asian studies, the postoperative HE rate was found to be significantly lower in the 8 mm group relative to the 10 mm group (p = 0.02), whereas all other endpoints were comparable between these groups. In Western studies, Δ PPG values were significantly greater in the 10 mm group (p < 0.0001), whereas all other endpoint data were comparable between these groups. Conclusions TIPS with 10 mm stents provides a lower TIPS dysfunction rate. However, 8 mm stents may be recommended for Asian patients, as they can decrease the risk of postoperative HE.

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