A Technical Tip to Aid Successful Placement of a Colonic Stent

Excerpt

About 8%–29% of colonic tumors present as an emergency with large bowel obstruction [1, 4]. In patients with metastatic colon cancer, or in those unfit for open surgical intervention, a trephine stoma may palliate symptoms of obstruction. A colostomy may not always be psychologically acceptable. The physiological stress response of surgery can have a negative effect on the quality of life and the length of remaining life [2]. Self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) can be used to palliate obstructive tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Patients with SEMS as opposed to palliative surgery remain in hospital for a shorter period of time. Stents do not influence survival rates and therefore patients who have this as an alternative to traditional open surgery may have improved quality, as opposed to quantity, of life [3]. …