BACKGROUND AND AIM: Self-expandable metallic stents are being used increasingly to treat the obstruction of different segments of the digestive tract and biliary tree. We present our centre experience on the initial resolution of malignant colorectal obstruction by means of this type of stents. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During a 18-month period, 13 patients patients suffering from malignant obstruction at the level of rectum, sigmoid or descending colon tried to be initially treated by means of endoscopic insertion of stents (non covered enteral Wallstents). Ten procedures were performed with both endoscopy and fluroscopy and three with only endoscopy. RESULTS: In 12 of the 13 patients (92,3%) the obstruction was solved by means of correct stent insertion. All the exclusively endoscopic procedures (without fluoroscopy) were successful. Six (50 %) patients with tumours at the rectosigmoid underwent later scheduled surgery. In the remaining six ones (a patient with an ovarian carcinoma and five with colonic adenocarcinoma) the stents were considered to be a palliative definitive treatment. Stent migration was observed in two of these patients and both were extracted endoscopically. Only one patient needed to have another stent inserted. A tumoural colo-vesical fistula developed in another patient in the palliative group, inside the previous inserted stent, and was treated by coaxial insertion of an esophageal Ultraflex. There were no other complications or mortality related to the endoscopic procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Self-expandable metallic stents might be considered, in general, as the initial treatment for the malignant obstruction at the level of rectum, sigmoid and descending colon
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Self-expandable metallic stents are being used increasingly to treat the obstruction of different segments of the digestive tract and biliary tree. We present our centre experience on the initial resolution of malignant colorectal obstruction by means of this type of stents. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During a 18-month period, 13 patientspatients suffering from malignant obstruction at the level of rectum, sigmoid or descending colon tried to be initially treated by means of endoscopic insertion of stents (non covered enteral Wallstents). Ten procedures were performed with both endoscopy and fluroscopy and three with only endoscopy. RESULTS: In 12 of the 13 patients (92,3%) the obstruction was solved by means of correct stent insertion. All the exclusively endoscopic procedures (without fluoroscopy) were successful. Six (50 %) patients with tumours at the rectosigmoid underwent later scheduled surgery. In the remaining six ones (a patient with an ovarian carcinoma and five with colonic adenocarcinoma) the stents were considered to be a palliative definitive treatment. Stent migration was observed in two of these patients and both were extracted endoscopically. Only one patient needed to have another stent inserted. A tumoural colo-vesical fistula developed in another patient in the palliative group, inside the previous inserted stent, and was treated by coaxial insertion of an esophageal Ultraflex. There were no other complications or mortality related to the endoscopic procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Self-expandable metallic stents might be considered, in general, as the initial treatment for the malignant obstruction at the level of rectum, sigmoid and descending colon