Infra-colic gastrostomy: Technique and anatomical considerations

Jen-Jou Wong,Srujana Ganti,Damian Mullan,Derek Edwards,Hans-Ulrich Laasch 소화기인터벤션의학회 2021 Gastrointestinal Intervention Vol.10 No.1

Background: Infra-colic radiologically inserted gastrostomy is not well documented, and the presence of an insertion window solely below the transverse colon is generally regarded as a contraindication to gastrostomy insertion. A perceived increased risk is due to the presence of vessels and lymphatics within the omental and peritoneal structures, such as the epiploic arteries, the arterial arcade of Barkow, and middle colic artery branches from the superior mesenteric artery. Colonic obstruction is also an additional theorised risk. We provide evidence that infra-colic insertion of a feeding tube through the greater omentum can be performed safely. Methods: A total of 1,156 gastrostomies were inserted over an 8-year period. A retrospective review of the 5 cases was conducted. Electronic patient records were reviewed including clinical consultations, procedure reports and images. Results: In all cases, barium was administered orally/per nasogastric tube the day before to delineate the colon. All patients underwent sedo-analgesia with insufflation of the stomach achieved by a temporising nasogastric/orogastric tube. Infra-colic gastropexy with three SafeTpexy T-fasteners was undertaken. Standard 12 Fr balloon retained tubes were inserted through the greater omentum with no post-procedural complications or tube malfunctions in four cases. A 16 Fr disc retained tube was inserted in a fifth case. Conclusion: Despite the perceived difficulties, we suggest that infra-colic gastrostomies can be performed with confidence, and with little deviation from standard insertion techniques. They can be inserted without an apparent increase in complications, although operators need to be aware of the anatomical differences and additional structures traversed when performing infra-colic gastrostomies.

Infra-colic gastrostomy: Technique and anatomical considerations

Jen-Jou Wong,Srujana Ganti,Damian Mullan,Derek Edwards,Hans-Ulrich Laasch 소화기인터벤션의학회 2021 International journal of gastrointestinal interven Vol.10 No.1

Background: Infra-colic radiologically inserted gastrostomy is not well documented, and the presence of an insertion window solely below the transverse colon is generally regarded as a contraindication to gastrostomy insertion. A perceived increased risk is due to the presence of vessels and lymphatics within the omental and peritoneal structures, such as the epiploic arteries, the arterial arcade of Barkow, and middle colic artery branches from the superior mesenteric artery. Colonic obstruction is also an additional theorised risk. We provide evidence that infra-colic insertion of a feeding tube through the greater omentum can be performed safely. Methods: A total of 1,156 gastrostomies were inserted over an 8-year period. A retrospective review of the 5 cases was conducted. Electronic patient records were reviewed including clinical consultations, procedure reports and images. Results: In all cases, barium was administered orally/per nasogastric tube the day before to delineate the colon. All patients underwent sedo-analgesia with insufflation of the stomach achieved by a temporising nasogastric/orogastric tube. Infra-colic gastropexy with three SafeTpexy T-fasteners was undertaken. Standard 12 Fr balloon retained tubes were inserted through the greater omentum with no post-procedural complications or tube malfunctions in four cases. A 16 Fr disc retained tube was inserted in a fifth case. Conclusion: Despite the perceived difficulties, we suggest that infra-colic gastrostomies can be performed with confidence, and with little deviation from standard insertion techniques. They can be inserted without an apparent increase in complications, although operators need to be aware of the anatomical differences and additional structures traversed when performing infra-colic gastrostomies.

The vanishing stent: Repeated fracture and dissolution of nitinol gastric stents in a long term cancer survivor

Christopher Randle Lunt,Pavan Najaran,Derek E. Edwards,Jon K Bell,Damian Mullan,Hans-Ulrich Laasch 소화기인터벤션의학회 2018 Gastrointestinal Intervention Vol.7 No.2

Nitinol self expandable metal stents are increasingly utilised for malignant obstruction in the proximal gastrointestinal tract. We describe a case in which repeated fracture of proximal duodenal stents with dissolution of the nitinol wire skeleton and covering membranes occurred in a long term cancer survivor. This necessitated placement of 4 stents for symptom control and to allow oral feeding until the patient’s death 20 months after the initial stent was inserted. Fracture of gastric and duodenal stents has rarely been described previously, some incidences of which were considered due to mechanical causes. Dissolution of stent metal skeletons has not previously been recognised in gastroduodenal stents but has been described in an oesophageal stent subject to reflux of gastric content and a biochemical mechanism has been proposed. With modern oncological treatment the prospect of patients outliving their stents is increasing and the need for repeat procedures should form part of the consent process.

The vanishing stent: Repeated fracture and dissolution of nitinol gastric stents in a long term cancer survivor

Christopher Randle Lunt,Pavan Najaran,Derek E. Edwards,Jon K Bell,Damian Mullan,Hans-Ulrich Laasch 소화기인터벤션의학회 2018 International journal of gastrointestinal interven Vol.7 No.2

Nitinol self expandable metal stents are increasingly utilised for malignant obstruction in the proximal gastrointestinal tract. We describe a case in which repeated fracture of proximal duodenal stents with dissolution of the nitinol wire skeleton and covering membranes occurred in a long term cancer survivor. This necessitated placement of 4 stents for symptom control and to allow oral feeding until the patient’s death 20 months after the initial stent was inserted. Fracture of gastric and duodenal stents has rarely been described previously, some incidences of which were considered due to mechanical causes. Dissolution of stent metal skeletons has not previously been recognised in gastroduodenal stents but has been described in an oesophageal stent subject to reflux of gastric content and a biochemical mechanism has been proposed. With modern oncological treatment the prospect of patients outliving their stents is increasing and the need for repeat procedures should form part of the consent process.

Safety of EEG BIS-guided nurse-administered procedural sedation during gastro-intestinal intervention

Alexander Oh,Sviatlana Vasileuskaya,Nabil Kibriya,Paula Puro,Damian Mullan,Hans-Ulrich Laasch 소화기인터벤션의학회 2024 International journal of gastrointestinal interven Vol.13 No.1

Background: Sedation remains a subject of contention and anxiety for many interventional teams. We reviewed our outcomes of electroencephalographic (EEG) bi-spectral index sensor (BIS) guidance, which allowed us to transfer the role of the sedation practitioner to the interventional radiology nurses. Methods: In total, 150 consecutive cancer-related interventional procedures were collected prospectively at a tertiary center. All patients were given 4 L oxygen via a nasal cannula and had conscious sedation administered by two trained interventional nurses. In addition to standard monitoring, frontal lobe EEG BIS monitoring was used. The initial amount of midazolam or fentanyl administered were dependant on the patient’s age and American Society of Anesthesiologists classification score. Thereafter, conscious sedation was maintained by titrating small incremental doses to maintain BIS between 80 and 85. The patients’ vitals were monitored at 5-minute intervals and recorded along with the Ramsay sedation scale and tolerance score. Results: The three most common procedures were: radiologically inserted gastrostomy (48%), percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (35%), and esophageal stenting (11%). All procedures were completed without disruption or unexpected patient movements. No reversal agents or airway management were required and no incidences of hypoxia occurred. Conclusion: BIS monitoring is an invaluable tool that has successfully allowed the role of the sedation practitioner to be transferred to the interventional nurses. It allows sedation to be personalized to each patient and their individual susceptibility to combination sedation and represents a vast improvement over interval clinical assessment of patients’ responsiveness to stimuli.