Palliation of Obstructing Malignant Colonic Lesions Using Self-Expanding Metal Stents: A Single-Center Experience

To evaluate the efficacy, risks, and survival after palliative colorectal stenting at a single center, we conducted a retrospective review of consecutive patients who had colorectal self-expanding metal stents (SEMSs) inserted over an 8-year period (September 1998 to September 2006) to relieve an obstructing colorectal tumor. All patients either had proven distant metastases or were unfit for surgical decompression. A single interventional radiologist (R.M.) inserted the stents, which were either Memotherm or WallFlex. Ninety-one patients with a median age of 73 years had a colorectal stent inserted for palliation of an obstructing colorectal malignancy. Technical success was achieved in 81 of 91 (89%) patients, and clinical success in 80 of 81 (99%). At the time of analysis (December 2006), 13 of 91 (14.2%) patients were alive. The patients who died had a median survival of 59 days, IQR 17–181 days. Seven (7/81) patients suffered stent migration, which occurred 10.3 days (IQR, 5–14 days) after the procedure. Three patients (3/81) re-presented with intestinal obstruction secondary to tumor ingrowth and 10 (10.9%) patients suffered bowel perforation. Ten patients (10.9%) had two stents inserted coaxially and overlapping in one procedure. This was performed in cases where the stricture was too long to be easily crossed by a single stent. We conclude that colorectal SEMS is a safe and effective mode of treatment for the palliation of obstructing colorectal cancers, which avoids high-risk surgery.