Role of Self-Expandable Metal Stents in Acute Variceal Bleeding

作者：Fuad Maufa, Fíras H. Al-Kawas · 发表于：International Journal of Hepatology · 年份：2012 · DOI：10.1155/2012/418369 · 被引用次数：25 · 研究领域：Liver Disease and Transplantation、Abdominal vascular conditions and treatments、Organ Transplantation Techniques and Outcomes

Acute variceal bleeding continues to be associated with significant mortality. Current standard of care combines hemodynamic stabilization, antibiotic prophylaxis, pharmacological agents, and endoscopic treatment. Rescue therapies using balloon tamponade or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt are implemented when first-line therapy fails. Rescue therapies have many limitations and are contraindicated in some cases. Placement of fully covered self-expandable metallic stent is a promising therapeutic technique that can be used to control bleeding in cases of refractory esophageal bleeding as an alternative to balloon tamponade. These stents can be left in place for as long as two weeks, allowing for improvement in liver function and institution of a more definitive treatment.