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.