Usefullness of metallic stents
- This topic has 4 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 7 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Hi Rick,
My mom had metal stenting 3 times (she just got back from one today). As for the patency, the first time it lasted for about 18 months and the second time just 9 months, the third one she just finished. We can never say anything about how long a metal stent can last for.. the clogging can happen because of biliary sludge, granulation tissue, strictures due to radiation and the most common of course is tumor growth. So you can never say when? why? or how long?
When the stent gets blocked, another stent is inserted throught the previous stent, that’s how they unblock it again. Re-stenting is definitely an easier process because an older stent is already there, but you can never say, sometimes complications arise.
As far as i know there is no maintenance or anything for metallic stents because they are permanent and the only thing that can be done is restenting, and the doc told me dilation won’t really help. My mum’s was done through a PDT or something, so donno about ERCP.
Let me know if you wanna know anything else?
Varun
My sister was wondering the same thing only yesterday, Rick. She had metal stents put in last September & (((phew))) has had no problem with them but was just asking me if I’d read any feedback on their longevity.
Sorry I can’t answer your question, just add to it!!
I’m sorry you had problems with yours, Lisa. I hope the plastic ones suit you better.
Funny you should ask that…
I had a metal stent installed in January 10, and it became clogged in March. Last week I had an ERCP to remove the metal stent and install 2 plastic ones.
I’m glad you have had good luck with the metal stent.
I’m curious how some of you have done with your metallic stents? I had mine installed on 9/18/2009 – about 7 months ago – and I haven’t had one bit of trouble with them. My bilirubin has remained in the normal range with the exception of 1 time when I developed a cholangitis infection (I also have PSC so I am more prone to these).
The Mayo Clinic told me when these were installed that they typically will require maintenance after about 6 months because they become clogged or tumor growth into the mesh causing obstruction and bilirubin elevation. I haven’t had these problems yet (knock on wood!), thankfully.
It is my undestanding that if/when they become blocked/clogged that a dilation and possibly insertion of new stents inside them is the course of action. I’ve read that this has happened for some of you, but I don’t find a lot of information on the board about maintenance times for the metalic stents.
Can anyone share their experiences with the metal stents? How long were you able to keep them without any problems with clogs, blocks, cholangitis/infections, etc? If you had some maintenance done on them, what was done – just a dilation or putting in new stents inside? Was the restenting procedure as easy as a normal stenting procedure via ERCP?
Thanks for any feedback!
Rick
- The forum ‘General Discussion’ is closed to new topics and replies.