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Background: Walled-off necrosis is a common complication of severe pancreatitis. Guidelines recommend endoscopic transgastric necrosectomy as therapy of choice. Different endoscopic approaches are possible. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed our series of 9 patients where necrosectomy was performed after application of a lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) delivered using a Hot AxiosTM Stent device. Results: In all 9 cases, the walled-off necrosis resolved completely. Necrosectomy was performed through the LAMS (mean: 5.7 times). Endoscopic necrosectomy was repeated every 3rd–7th day using 10- or 15-mm snares. There were no major complications. Especially, no early or delayed bleeding was seen. Conclusion: The Hot AxiosTM Stent device is a safe method for necrosectomy of walled-off necrosis. It enables puncture, drainage, and LAMS insertion in a single delivery, followed by several courses of necrosectomy if needed without stent exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In the treatment of venous malformations, ethanol may be administered in a gelified form to increase local effects and reduce systemic ones. The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a commercially available viscous ethanol gel in the treatment of venous malformations., Subjects and Methods: Thirty-one patients (mean age, 23.4 years; age range, 6.6-46.5 years) with venous malformations were prospectively scheduled for two ethanol-gel sclerotherapy sessions. Venous malformations were located at the lower extremity (n = 18), the upper extremity (n = 9), and the face (n = 4). Questionnaires to assess pain, clinical examinations, professional photographs, and contrast-enhanced MRI of the venous malformations were performed before and after therapy to measure therapy-induced changes. Two experienced radiologists blinded to the examination date and clinical status compared photographs and MR images before and after treatment., Results: A mean of 4.2 mL of ethanol gel were administered per session. The technical success rate was 100%. Clinical success, defined as improvement or resolution of symptoms, was noted in 81% of patients. Mean pain score decreased, and the difference was statistically significant (3.9 vs 3.1, p = 0.005). In 54 treatment sessions where follow-up was available, four minor complications occurred. Comparison of photographs and MR images before and after treatment showed improvement in 35% and 93% of patients, respectively., Conclusion: Ethanol gel is an effective and safe sclerosing agent in the treatment of venous malformations.