ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: With the development of self-expanding metallic stents, colonic obstruction can be relieved without the need for surgery. The results of preoperative placement of stents for malignant colorectal obstruction might be different according to the obstructing lesion. The objective of this study was to compare clinical improvement rates and operative results after preoperative placement of stents for malignant colorectal obstruction according to the location of the obstructing lesion. METHODS: This is a retrospective study including 57 patients who underwent self-expanding metallic stent insertion for obstructing resectable colorectal cancers. Patients were classified into three groups according to the location of the lesion as follows: proximal to the sigmoid colon (Group A), sigmoid colon (Group B), and rectum (Group C). RESULTS: The number of patients in A, B, and C groups was 13, 22, and 22, respectively. No significant differences in age, gender, stent type, and accompanying diseases among the three groups were observed. There were no significant differences in stent-related complications, clinical improvement rates, and one-stage resection rates among the three groups. The postoperative complications, the requirement rate of ICU care, the period of ICU stay, postoperative hospital stay, and hospital mortality did not significantly differ among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical improvement rates and operative results after successful placement of stents for obstructing resectable colorectal cancers are not different according to the location of the obstructing lesion, suggesting that preoperative stenting for one-stage curative resection is useful, irrespective of the location of lesion.