A 63-year-old man attended the hospital due to early satiety and
indigestion. He had had peptic ulcer disease for several years and had received
proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy for a prolonged period at another center
without satisfactory outcome. Endoscopic examination revealed a narrowed
pyloric channel that precluded passage of a scope ([Fig. 1 a ]). Urea breath test result was
negative, proving that previous Helicobacter pylori
eradication treatment had been successful. To alleviate the patient's
symptoms, we carried out repeated endoscopic balloon dilation at
7 – 10-day intervals, using through-the-scope (TTS) balloon
dilation catheters up to 12 mm diameter. However, after five sessions of
this intervention there was no improvement in the symptoms. As the patient did
not want to undergo surgery, endoscopic self-expanding metallic stent (SEMS)
installation was attempted. A 7-cm, partial covered stent (Hanarostent, M. I.
Tech Co., Ltd., Seoul, Korea) was deployed using an endoscope and the TTS
method ([Fig. 1 b ]). There were no
immediate complications and the patient was put on a liquid diet that night.
After 2 weeks, follow-up endoscopy revealed a patent stent in a fairly good
position. Considering the possibility of in-stent growth of granulation tissue,
the stent was removed after the fourth week of insertion via endoscopy with
forceps ([Fig. 1 c ]). Use of argon plasma
coagulation (APC) to ablate the in-growing granulation tissue ([Fig. 1 d ]) allowed reinsertion of the SEMS at
4 – 8 weeks intervals at the endoscopist's discretion.
The removal/insertion process was repeated six times. The final endoscopic
examination revealed a significantly wider pyloric channel, which allowed easy
passage of an endoscope ([Fig. 2 ]). The patient is
currently on double doses of PPI, and has had no signs or symptoms of
obstruction over 1 year of follow-up.
Fig. 1 a Narrowed pyloric
outlet due to recurrent duodenal ulcer, precluding passage of an endoscope.
b Self-expanding metallic stent (SEMS) inserted using
the through-the-scope method. c The SEMS was removed
endoscopically and reinserted at 4 – 8 weeks'
intervals. d Tissue growing through the stent mesh was
trimmed using argon plasma coagulation (APC), several weeks after stent
insertion.
Fig. 2 Previously narrowed
pyloric channel showing a significantly larger lumen after six sessions of
self-expanding metallic stent insertion-removal.
Endoscopic balloon dilation is a common method for management of
benign pyloric stricture [1 ]
[2 ]
[3 ], but has been criticized for suboptimal results, repeat
procedures, and rare complications such as bowel perforation [4 ]
[5 ]. The present case exemplifies
endoscopic SEMS insertion as another way for managing benign pyloric
strictures, and our patient is the first successful case to be reported. SEMS
may be used as a salvage treatment for pyloric stenosis or even as the main
intervention. Removal with APC of tissue growing through the stent mesh or over
the stent ends also enables prolonged SEMS placement.
Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_TTT_1AO_2AH