Percutaneous transhepatic placement of covered, self-expandable nitinol stent for the relief of afferent loop syndrome: report of two cases.

The author reports successful outcomes after percutaneous transhepatic placement of covered, self-expandable nitinol stents in two patients who had afferent loop syndrome caused by recurrent gastric carcinoma. A 46-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man who had undergone subtotal gastrectomy and gastrojejunostomy (Billroth II) were both admitted with symptoms of afferent loop syndrome. In each patient, enhanced abdominal computed tomography showed marked dilation of the jejunal limb and intrahepatic bile ducts incident to recurrent gastric carcinoma. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was successfully performed, and a multi-sidehole drainage catheter was placed beyond the papilla of Vater. Successful palliation of the afferent loop obstruction was achieved by placing a covered, self-expandable nitinol stent through the transhepatic biliary drainage route. There were no procedure-related complications, and both patients showed clinical improvement.