1. < Pancreatic Cancer

Duct to pancreas has narrowed: Need a stent

Posted by crickard70 @crickard70, May 19, 2023

I have a narrowed duct and scar tissue on the duct to pancreas. That is why the Ceron and eating has been so painful. Tuesday they are going to try and put a stent in. has anyone had this problem? Thank you

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patel | @patel | May 21, 2023
In reply to @crickard70 "I had an mri, they tried to put stent in down my throat but couldn’t get..." + (show)
@crickard70

I had an mri, they tried to put stent in down my throat but couldn’t get to it. Going to have surgery Tuesday to put one in. See surgeon Monday to go over procedure. How can you go 24 hours with no food?

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I guess I was on clear liquids post op 24 hrs....if I saidNpo... have a lot going on ..error. I drank ensure clear

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patel | @patel | May 21, 2023
In reply to @markymarkfl "When my PC was biopsied during EUS/ERCP, the surgeon inserted a Boston Scientific "Wallflex" series metal..." + (show)
@markymarkfl

When my PC was biopsied during EUS/ERCP, the surgeon inserted a Boston Scientific "Wallflex" series metal stent to relieve the blockage in my common bile duct and the jaundice/itching it was causing.

Make sure you get an implant card from the surgeon describing exactly what make/model of stent you have, and specifically its MRI compatibility. I didn't get that from my surgeon, and Boston Scientific was absolutely horrible in their multiple failures to help me when I needed that info before an MRI.

With that said, I don't know if any of these stents are considered permanent or require maintenance / replacement. I got the impression mine was mainly a 1-year stop-gap until the Whipple. I could see replacement being difficult if tissue grows around it or becomes attached to it. And go easy on your new stent for a few weeks to prevent infection!

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Weeks to prevent infection....can you elaborate info on that...we needto be on schedule for chemotherapy but may consider delay little for avoiding immunosuppressive stage and infection. If there is data on how long it would be helpful as I really need the chemotherapy. Also did you ever end up finding out about mri and wallflex... I also have wall flex....how long have you had it.....did you have tissue overgrowth or infection and if so what happened. Thanks a bu ch in advance. I have so many questions unanswered a out my wall wallflex bile duct implant

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1 reply
gardenlady1116 | @gardenlady1116 | May 21, 2023
In reply to @patel "I had a metal stent put in yesterday. I have pancreatic cancer but no tumor was..." + (show)
@patel

I had a metal stent put in yesterday. I have pancreatic cancer but no tumor was near the duct and they could not see what was causing narrowing. The oncologist said could be inflamed lymph node but does not know. The GI guy that put the stent in said likely tumor but he was in a hurry to get the procedure done and he could have not said for sure as the imaging and scope did not show tumor. Also he put in metal stent nickel titanium alloy and never asked me about nickel allergy etc. I am not pleased with his bedside manner of hurry scurry and get the surgery done but no problem from procedure with it being day 2. Can a metal stent be removed if no problems are identified with the head of the pancreas as my tumor is in the tail. I am afraid of other problems arising from messing with the head of pancreas since I do not have the blood sugar issues or creon needs. Anyone know more about the concerns/metal stent

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Doesn't seem like your current GI is taking your concerns seriously. If something else needs to be done with the stent, a doctor with more expertise and bedside manner seems to be in order. My first stent was place because the cancer blocked the bile duct. After six months, it fell out and I had new once placed at MSKCC. The theory was that the tumor shrank so much that it might have caused the stent to fall out. My experience couldn't have been more different at MSKCC with the experts than at my local hospital which was OK. Took me 10 days to recover but with my second stent and ERCP I was OK within 24 hours.

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crickard70 | @crickard70 | May 22, 2023
In reply to @patel "Weeks to prevent infection....can you elaborate info on that...we needto be on schedule for chemotherapy but..." + (show)
@patel

Weeks to prevent infection....can you elaborate info on that...we needto be on schedule for chemotherapy but may consider delay little for avoiding immunosuppressive stage and infection. If there is data on how long it would be helpful as I really need the chemotherapy. Also did you ever end up finding out about mri and wallflex... I also have wall flex....how long have you had it.....did you have tissue overgrowth or infection and if so what happened. Thanks a bu ch in advance. I have so many questions unanswered a out my wall wallflex bile duct implant

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I am having mine surgically put in Tuesday will get back to you thank you

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markymarkfl | @markymarkfl | May 22, 2023

@patel , My infection was a weird mystery... I had not yet started chemo, so there was no immunosuppression. But I had resumed somewhat vigorous exercise about a week after the EUS/ERCP/biopsy/stent, and a few days later, I was hanging upside-down from an inversion table to relieve some back pain. One hypothesis nobody disagreed with was that healing may have been delayed by the exercise, and gut bacteria below the pancreas may have gotten into the biopsy site while hanging upside down. Intense vomiting led to three days in the hospital with a nasty infection and no other explanation.

Regarding the Wallflex stent: I was able to deduce the model from its description and dimensions in my surgeon's report, and I was able to find MRI compatibility data for various stents on Boston Scientific's website (with a lot of digging). But since I didn't have an exact model number, and the BS website didn't say the MRI data applied explicitly to the model I thought I had, there was some uncertainty the MRI center had to resolve before they could proceed. BS was a lot more responsive to them than they were to me.

MRI compatibility has been something I always ask about. I have some stainless steel and titanium hardware in my body as well, but they are non-(or very weakly) magnetic and not a problem. The local center that did the first MRI on my pancreas wasted 3 weeks figuring out what to do with my implanted cardiac loop recorder, despite me giving them the ID card and MRI report directly from Medtronic. Time sadly wasted...

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beths77 | @beths77 | May 23, 2023

My husband had a metal stent placed in his main bile duct over 2 months ago and has not had any complications. The metal stent was done so he wouldn't have to go in for replacement stents in the future.

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crickard70 | @crickard70 | May 23, 2023

My whipple surgeon is going back in to fix 2 blocked ducts I don’t think he is using a stent,, 5 day stay and 6 week recoup. Will let you all know my outcome, but no cancer hey!Thank all of you for your help.

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1 reply
gardenlady1116 | @gardenlady1116 | May 24, 2023
In reply to @crickard70 "My whipple surgeon is going back in to fix 2 blocked ducts I don’t think he..." + (show)
@crickard70

My whipple surgeon is going back in to fix 2 blocked ducts I don’t think he is using a stent,, 5 day stay and 6 week recoup. Will let you all know my outcome, but no cancer hey!Thank all of you for your help.

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Best of luck with your surgery

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