Palliation of malignant rectal obstruction with self-expanding metal stents

BACKGROUND: Surgical management of patients with metastatic or recurrent rectal cancer remains controversial. Self-expanding metal stents are increasingly used for palliative treatment of advanced tumors, although long-term results are not yet available. METHODS: Between 1996 and 2003, 521 patients underwent surgery for rectal neoplasms. In the same time period, self-expanding metal stents were used for palliation of 34 patients with malignant rectal obstruction and incurable disease. The outcome of the patients was analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Rectal stents were successfully placed in 33 of 34 patients (97%) without major complications. Early failure occurred in 7 patients (21%) because of stent migration, pain, or incontinence. Long-term success with a mean patency of 5.3 months was observed in 26 patients (79%), but restenting was required in 2 patients. Despite the initial success of stenting, a colostomy was created in 2 other patients after 3.4 months and 9.2 months because of incontinence and rectovesical fistula. Overall, 6 of 33 patients (18%) underwent palliative surgery because of early complications (n = 4) or long-term failure of stent treatment (n = 2). CONCLUSIONS: Self-expanding metal stents are useful to avoid a colostomy in selected patients with incurable rectal cancer and limited life expectancy. Nonetheless, a considerable number (18%) of patients will require surgical palliation because of failure of stent treatment.     

Placement of self-expanding metal stents for acute malignant large-bowel obstruction: a collective review

Background The purpose of this study was to review our experience with self-expanding metal stents as the initial interventional approach in the management of acute malignant large-bowel obstruction. Methods Twenty-six patients who underwent placement of colonic stents at our institution between June 1994 and June 2000 were identified and reviewed. Results In 14 patients, the stents were placed for palliation, whereas in 12, they were placed as a bridge to surgery. In 22 patients (85%), stent placement was successful on the first occasion. In the remaining four individuals, one was successfully stented at the second occasion, and three required emergency surgery. Nine of the 12 patients (75%) in the bridge-to-surgery group underwent elective colon resection. In the palliative group, four patients (29%) had reobstruction of the stents, and in one (9%), the stent migrated. In the remaining nine patients (64%), the stent was patent until the patient died or until the time of last follow-up (median, 156 days). Conclusions In our experience with 26 patients who developed a complete bowel obstruction as a consequence of a malignant tumor, placement of colonic stents to achieve immediate nonoperative decompression proved to be both safe and effective. Subsequent elective resection was accomplished in the majority of resectable cases.     

Experience with endoluminal colonic wall stents for the management of large bowel obstruction for benign and malignant disease

HYPOTHESIS: To assess the applicability and efficacy of endoluminal colonic wall stents (ECWSs) in the management of large bowel obstruction (LBO). DESIGN: Inception cohort study. SETTING: University-based tertiary medical center. PATIENTS: Eleven consecutive patients with LBO in the absence of peritonitis. INTERVENTION: Placement of ECWS under endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The success rate in ECWS placement, the efficacy in decompressing the obstruction, and the patency rate of the ECWS. RESULTS: Successful placement of ECWSs was obtainable in 10 of 11 patients. Once placed, all 10 patients achieved immediate decompression of their LBO. Eight patients had malignant obstructions associated with distant spread of disease; 3 patients had diverticular disease. Among those with malignant obstruction, 6 patients had successful and lasting palliation without colostomy, 1 patient underwent 1-stage resection 1 month later with no evidence of obstruction, and 1 patient could not be stented so diversion was done. None of the patients with diverticular disease required diversion: 2 had complete bowel preparation followed by resection with primary anastomosis, whereas the third declined surgery. Four of the 10 patients required overlapping ECWSs to bridge the stricture. One patient required a second ECWS secondary to recurrence of obstruction after stent migration and has continued palliation of his stage 4 rectal cancer for the last 11 months. No other complications were encountered. CONCLUSIONS: Urgent surgery with colostomy for LBO was avoided in 10 of 11 patients because of successful placement of ECWSs. We believe that endoscopic colonic stenting is safe, effective, and lasting, and should be considered as initial nonoperative management in all patients seen with LBO in the absence of peritonitis.     

Metallic stents in large bowel obstruction: experience in a District General Hospital

INTRODUCTION: Metallic stents are used increasingly in the palliation of malignant large bowel obstruction. Stenting has also been used in the setting of acute obstruction, allowing appropriate patient preparation for an elective colectomy. METHODS: Uncovered metallic stents were inserted using a combined endoscopic/radiological technique in patients presenting with large bowel obstruction. RESULTS: Seventeen patients (10 female, mean age 75.2 years) presented with large bowel obstruction, 14 due to malignancy and 3 secondary to diverticular stricture. Technical success was achieved in 13/17 with clinical success in 12 of these 13. There were no perforations or procedure related deaths. One stented patient had elective surgery. The five patients with clinical/technical failure required emergency surgery. CONCLUSION: The result of our preliminary experience in the use of metallic stents is encouraging. Metallic stents should be available in all hospitals as part of a multimodality approach in treating large bowel obstruction.     

Management of malignant left-sided large bowel obstruction: a comparison between colonic stents and surgery

Background: Management of distal malignant large bowel obstruction (LBO) remains challenging. Acute surgical intervention is often associated with poorer clinical outcome compared to an elective procedure. Self‐expandable metallic stents (SEMS) as a bridge to surgery (BTS) or palliation remain controversial and are not yet widely available. Methods: From 1998 to 2008, a retrospective analysis of the patients presenting with an acute malignant LBO to The Tweed Public and John Flynn Private Hospitals was performed. Results: Fifty‐six admissions with malignant distal colonic obstruction were reviewed. On an intention to treat, patients underwent either stent 30 or surgery 26. American Association of Anaesthetists (ASA) scores, obesity rates and palliative procedures were all higher in the stent group. Inpatient deaths numbered four (two stent group, two surgery group). The technical success of inserted stents was 29/30, while clinical success was 27/30. Complications both medical, surgical and intensive care unit admissions were more common in the surgical group. Length of stay was 8.5 days for stent and 17.7 days for surgery. Of the 25 successful stent survivors, 14 were palliative and 11 were BTS. Conclusions: SEMS are effective in treatment of LBO either as palliation or BTS. They are associated with an overall better outcome and improved quality of life of patients. Surgery is indicated where SEMS are unavailable or have failed.     

Current management of acute malignant large bowel obstruction: a systematic review

BackgroundThe management of colonic obstruction has changed in recent years. In distal obstruction, optimal treatment remains controversial, particularly after the appearance and use of colonic endoluminal stents. The purpose of this study was to review the current treatment of acute malignant large bowel obstruction according to the level of evidence of the available literature.MethodsA systematic search was conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Google Scholar for articles published through January 2013 to identify studies of large bowel obstruction and colorectal cancer. Included studies were randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials, reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis.ResultsAfter a literature search of 1,768 titles and abstracts, 218 were selected for full-text assessment; 59 studies were ultimately included. Twenty-five studies of the diagnosis and treatment of obstruction and 34 studies of the use of stents were assessed.ConclusionsIn view of the various alternatives and the lack of high-grade evidence, the treatment of distal colonic obstruction should be individually tailored to each patient.     

Treatment of a large bowel neoplastic obstruction left-sided by self-expanding enteral stent. Personal experience

The authors report on their experience in the treatment with self-expanding enteral stent for acute left-sided large bowel obstruction and believe that this procedure is effective as a "bridge to surgery". From January to November 2005 3 patients have been treated with colorectal stents in obstructing left-sided large bowel carcinoma: over the following 24 hours we observed canalization and consequent disocclusion of the colonrectum. Stented patients were treated with elective colonic resection with primary anastomosis avoiding decompressive stoma and Hartmann's procedure.     

Partially versus fully covered self-expanding metal stents for benign and malignant esophageal conditions: a single center experience

Background

Fully covered self-expanding metal stents (FCSEMS), unlike partially covered SEMS (PCSEMS), have been used to treat benign as well as malignant conditions. We aimed to evaluate the outcome of PCSEMS and FCSEMS in patients with both benign and malignant esophageal diseases.

Methods

Data were reviewed of all patients who underwent SEMS placement for malignant or benign conditions between January 1995 and January 2012. Patients with cancer were followed for at least 3 months, until death or surgery. Patients with benign conditions had stents removed between 4 and 12 weeks. Patient demographics, location and type of lesion, stent placement and removal, clinical success, and adverse events were analyzed.

Results

A total of 252 patients (mean ± standard deviation age 68.5 ± 14 years; 171 male) received 321 SEMS (209 PCSEMS, 112 FCSEMS) for malignant (78 %) and benign (22 %) conditions. Stent placement and removal was successful in 97.6 and 95.6 % procedures. Successful relief of malignant dysphagia was noted in 140 of 167 patients (83.8 %) and control of benign fistulas, leaks, and perforations was noted in 21 of 25 patients (84 %), but only 8 of 15 patients (53 %) with recalcitrant benign strictures had effective treatment. Fifty-six patients (22.2 %) experienced at least one stent-related adverse events. Migration was frequent, occurring in 61 of 321 stent placements (19 %), and more frequently with FCSEMS than PCSEMS (37.5 vs. 9.1 %, p < 0.001). FCSEMS, benign conditions, and distal location were the variables independently associated with migration (p < 0.001, p = 0.022, and p = 0.008). Patients with PCSEMS were more likely to have tissue in- or overgrowth than FCSEMS (53.4 vs. 29.1 %, p = 0.004).

Conclusions

Both PCSEMS and FCSEMS can be used in benign and malignant conditions; they are both effective for relieving malignant dysphagia and for closing leaks and perforations, but they seem less effective for relieving benign recalcitrant strictures. Stent migration is more common with FCSEMS, which may limit its use for the palliation of malignant dysphagia.     

Large-diameter self-expanding metal stents appear to be safe and effective for malignant colonic obstruction with and without concurrent use of chemotherapy

Background  

Colonic stents are used chiefly for malignant large-bowel obstruction as a palliative measure or bridge to surgery that facilitates one-step resections. Literature on colorectal stenting demonstrates good safety and efficacy; however, a recent trial has raised concerns regarding the safety of a new large-diameter stent, especially in the setting of concurrent chemotherapy. This study evaluated our experience with colorectal stenting using mainly this stent.     

Partially covered self-expanding metal stent for unresectable malignant extrahepatic biliary obstruction: results of a large prospective series

Background

Endoscopic biliary stenting is a well-established palliative treatment in patients with unresectable malignant biliary strictures. Obstruction of uncovered self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) due to tumor ingrowth is the most frequent complication. Partially covered SEMS might increase stent patency but could favor complications related to stent covering, such as pancreatitis, cholecystitis, and migration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of partially covered SEMS in patients with an unresectable malignant biliary stricture.

Methods

Patients with malignant extrahepatic biliary obstruction treated endoscopically with partially covered SEMS were included in this multicenter, prospective, nonrandomized study.

Results

One hundred ninety-nine patients were endoscopically treated with partially covered SEMS in 32 Spanish hospitals. Clinical success after deep cannulation was 96%. Early complications occurred in 4% (3 pancreatitis, 2 cholangitis, 1 hemorrhage, 1 perforation, and 1 cholecystitis). Late complications occurred in 19.5% (18 obstructions, 10 migrations, 6 cholangitis without obstruction, 3 acute cholecystitis, and 2 pancreatitis), with no tumor ingrowth in any case. Median stent patency was 138.9 ± 112.6?days. One-year actuarial probability of stent patency was 70% and that of nonmigration was 86%. Multivariate analysis showed adjuvant radio- or chemotherapy as the only independent predictive factor of stent patency and previous insertion of a biliary stent was the only predictive factor of migration.

Conclusions

The partially covered SEMS was easily inserted, had a high clinical success rate, and prevented tumor ingrowth. The incidence of possible complications related to stent coverage, namely, migration, pancreatitis, and cholecystitis, was lower than in previously published series.     

Outcome for self-expandable metal stents in malignant gastroduodenal obstruction: single-center experience with 104 patients

Background  

Malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) leads to malnutrition and limits quality of life. Gastrojejunostomy has been the traditional treatment for GOO. Recently, the results of releasing duodenal obstruction with self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) have been encouraging.     

Insertion of self-expanding metal stents for malignant dysphagia: assessment of a simple endoscopic method

AIM: To assess the efficacy, safety and long-term results of self-expanding metallic prostheses, placed using an entirely endoscopic method, for the relief of dysphagia in oesophageal carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A consecutive series of 50 patients (30 men, 20 women), aged 43-91 years (median, 75 years) underwent stent placement (Ultraflex Stent, Boston Scientific, Watertown, MA, USA) under general anaesthesia without fluoroscopic control. RESULTS: Stent placement was successful in all patients. Swallowing improved from dysphagia score 4, 3 or 2 to score 1 (or 0) in all patients available for long-term follow-up (excluding two patients who died, and two who had resection, in the immediate post-stenting period). There were two early deaths that were, or could have been, procedure-related and one early complication, in addition to technical problems in 6 cases, all early in the series. Seven patients required endoscopic laser treatment, on 13 occasions, subsequently for tumour in-growth or over-growth. Of the 46 patients with long-term stents in situ, 36 patients died with a median survival time of 4 months (range 10 days to 24 months). At the time of writing, 10 patients are still alive with a median survival of 4 months (range 1-11 months). CONCLUSIONS: Self-expanding metallic stents provide rapid, safe and effective relief of dysphagia. They can provide long-term palliation (> 1 year) with endoscopic laser treatment for recurrent in-growing/over-growing tumour. Fluoroscopic control is not necessary for the safe and accurate placement of such stents.     

肠道支架减压在左侧大肠癌梗阻一期切除吻合中的应用

目的 探讨术前肠道支架减压在左侧大肠癌梗阻一期切除吻合中运用的安全性和有效性.方法 回顾性分析2005年5月至2008年9月浙江中医药大学附属第一医院收治的97例左侧大肠癌患者临床资料.支架联合手术组46例,为左侧大肠癌合并肠梗阻的患者,成功放置肠道支架减压后行手术一期切除吻合治疗.单纯手术组51例,为无梗阻的左侧大肠癌而限期手术治疗的患者.观察两组患者术后胃肠功能恢复、术后住院时间、并发症发生情况.采用t检验、χ~2检验对数据进行分析.结果 支架联合手术组46例中,1例乙状结肠癌患者于肠道支架植入术后第4天出现肠道穿孔致弥漫性腹膜炎,急诊行乙状结肠癌根治术.45例均顺利完成一期手术治疗,术后11～16 d痊愈出院,1例患者术后10 d死于呼吸道感染及心功能衰竭.术后随访4～48个月.两组患者在术后肛门排气时间、住院时间、围手术期并发症发生率、复发转移率、随访期内生存率方面比较差异无统计学意义(t=0.164,1.358,χ~2=0.252,1.200,0.580,P>0.05).结论 术前肠道支架减压是治疗左侧大肠癌梗阻患者安全、有效的方法.