Ex vivo comparison of the lumen-apposing properties of EUS-specific stents (with video)

Background and Aims Several EUS-specific stents have become available. It has been claimed that some of these stents have lumen-apposing properties, but objective data measuring such properties are not available. The aim of this study is to measure the lumen-apposing force (LAF) of these stents. Methods The LAF of 3 EUS-specific metallic stents (stents A, N, and S) were compared in an ex vivo setting. Four types of anastomoses were performed with the stents including cholecysto-duodenal, cholecysto-gastric, gastro-gastric, and gastro-jejunal and compared with a hand-sewn (HS) equivalent of the anastomosis. The outcome parameter was the LAF created by each type of stent. Results Sixty-four anastomoses were created. The overall mean (standard deviation) LAFs were significantly higher for stents A and S ( P < .001). This difference persisted regardless of the type of anastomosis: gastro-gastric ( P = .002), gastro-jejunal ( P = .005), cholecysto-gastric ( P = .002), and cholecysto-jejunal ( P = .003). The differences in LAF created by each type of stent across different types of anastomoses were also compared. A trend to significance was observed in the anastomoses created by stent N ( P = .064) and stent A ( P =.052); a significant difference in LAF was observed among different anastomoses created by stent S ( P = .015). The LAF created by HS anastomosis was significantly higher than that for all stents across all anastomoses. Conclusions Stents A and S had a higher LAF. The use of these stents should be considered when performing EUS-guided transmural luminal anastomoses in non-adherent organs. Further studies are required to confirm the clinical efficacies of these EUS-specific stents.