Home-made self-expandable metallic stent therapy for benign or malignant segmental inferior vena cava obstruction

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of home-made self-expandable metallic stent therapy for benign or malignant segmental obstruction of inferior vena cava (IVC). Methods: 48 patients, including 30 cases of benignancy and 18 of malignancy, were underwent the home-made self-expandable metallic stent endovascular implantation of IVC. Results: Of 48 patients, the average obstructive length of IVC was 5.3 ± 2.8 cm. The IVC pressure below the obstruction varied from 21.4 ± 5.1 mmHg of preoperation to 8.4 ± 3.3 mmHg of postoperation (P<0.01). After once successful procedure, no serious procedure-related complications occurred. During 3-36 month follow-up, the patency of IVC stents reached 83.3%, the relative clinical symptoms and signs disappeared in 38 patients and markedly improved in 10. Conclusions: Home-made self-expandable metallic stenting is an effective therapeutic method for benign or malignant segmental obstruction of IVC. (authors)