Long-term survival analysis after endoscopic stenting as a bridge to surgery for malignant colorectal obstruction: comparison with emergency diverting colostomy

The use of colorectal self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) as bridge therapy for malignant colorectal obstruction was first reported more than 20 years ago. However, its use remains controversial. Objective: In this study, we aimed to compare the long-term survival of patients with potentially resectable malignant colorectal obstruction who had undergone colorectal SEMS placement and emergency surgery. Methods: This study was a retrospective analyses. Patients who received treatment between 2009 and 2017 were included. According to the eligibility criteria, 21 patients were included in the SEMS group and 67 patients were included in the surgical group.. Results: The majority of the patients in the SEMS group were female (57.1%), whereas the majority of those in the surgical group were male (53.7%). The median follow-up time was 60 months for both groups with the same interquartile range of 60 months. There was no difference in the overall survival rate (log rank p=0.873) and disease-free survival rate (log rank p=0.2821) in the five-year analysis. There was no difference in local recurrence rates (38.1% vs. 22.4%, p=0.14) or distant recurrence rates (33.3% vs. 50.7%, p=0.16) in the SEMS and the surgical groups. Technical and clinical success rates of endoscopic stenting were 95.3% and 85.7%, respectively. There were no immediate adverse events (AEs). Severe AEs included perforation (14.3%), silent perforation (4.7%), reobstruction (14.3%), and bleeding (14.3%). Mild AEs included pain (42.8%), tenesmus (9.5%), and incontinence (4.76%). The limitations of this study was retrospective and was conducted at a single center. Conclusions: No differences in disease-free and overall survival rates were observed in the five-year analysis of patients with resectable colorectal cancer who had undergone SEMS placement or colostomy for the treatment of malignant colorectal obstruction. Patients in the SEMS group had a higher rate of primary anastomosis and a lower rate of temporary colostomy than did those in the surgery group.

Endoscopic stent in malignant colonic obstruction: the risk of tumor seeding / Prótese endoscópica no carcinoma do cólon em obstrução: risco de disseminação tumoral

Abstract Introduction: Malignant colonic occlusion is traditionally considered a surgical emergency. With the development of endoscopic techniques, metallic stents have emerged to ensure the colonic patency in nonsurgical candidates and, more recently, as a temporary measure until elective resection surgery is possible. Materials and methods: The research was conducted in PubMed and collected a total of 46 articles, including cross-references. Results: Ideally, intestinal occlusion should be resolved through tumor's primary resection with direct anastomosis. To avoid dehiscence of the anastomosis, tumor's resection may be performed with Hartmann's procedure. Metal stents are an alternative to emergency surgery and show excellent results in reliving colonic obstruction. However, they may have serious complications related to colonic perforation, migration and tumor dissemination. Discussion and conclusion: Observational studies and clinical trials show discrepant results. Metal stents are increasingly accepted in palliative care but are not yet recommended as a bridge to curative surgery. Treatment should be individualized, according to surgical risk and the probability of endoscopic complications.

Resumo Introdução: A oclusão intestinal aguda maligna é tradicionalmente considerada uma emergência cirúrgica. Com o desenvolvimento das técnicas endoscópicas surgiram os stents metálicos que asseguram a patência do cólon em doentes não candidatos a cirurgia e, mais recentemente, como uma medida temporária até ser possível realizar uma cirurgia de resseção eletiva. Materiais e métodos: A pesquisa decorreu na PubMed e reuniu um total de 46 artigos, incluindo referências cruzadas. Resultados: Idealmente, a oclusão intestinal deve ser abordada através da resseção primária do tumor com anastomose primária. Para evitar a deiscência da anastomose, a resseção tumoral pode ser realizada recorrendo à cirurgia Hartmann ou a um estoma derivativo sem resseção tumoral. Os stents metálicos são uma alternativa à cirurgia de emergência com resultados excelentes na resolução da obstrução cólica. Contudo, poderão levar a complicações como a perfuração cólica, a migração e a disseminação tumoral. Discussão e conclusão: Os estudos observacionais e ensaios clínicos mostram resultados discrepantes. O uso dos stents metálicos é cada vez mais aceite como tratamento paliativo, mas ainda não são inequivocamente recomendados como ponte para uma cirurgia curativa. O tratamento deve ser individualizado de acordo com o risco cirúrgico e a probabilidade de complicações endoscópicas.

Temporary Indwelling of Self-expandable Metal Stent may Obviate the Need of Staged Operation for Malignant Colonic Obstruction

PURPOSE: Staged operation employing temporary enterostomy is still the standard treatment of malignant colonic obstruction (MCO). Expandable metal stent has been used for the palliation of unresectable gastrointestinal obstruction. We applied this metal stent technique to the MCO to achieve temporary alleviation of the obstruction so that the bowel preparation and one-stage operation were enabled. In this study we examined the efficacy of temporary indwelling of metal stent to obviate the need of staged operation in the treatment of MCO. METHODS: From December 1998 to January 2001, 35 MCO patients were treated. Patients had typical symptoms of colonic obstruction such as abdominal pain and distension. When they were admitted, an self-expandable metal stent was introduced under the guide of flexible colonoscopy. For three days, formal bowel preparation (both chemical and mechanical) were followed. With regard to achievement of bowel preparation, postoperative complications and hospital stay, these 35 patients were compared with control group (N=20) of patients who underwent two staged operations for MCO. RESULTS: The tumor locations were upper rectum (N=10), sigmoid colon (N=22) and left colon (N=3). Metal stent slipped off in one patient. Double contrast barium enema was possible in 34 patients. One stage operation was performed in all patients. Anastomotic complications were not observed in both groups. Intraabdominal abscess requiring reoperation was noted in one patient in each group. Wound infection was noted in 3 (8.6%) stent patients whereas 16 (80%) patients had wound complication in the control group (P<0.05). Mean hospital stay was 12.2 days in stent group and 29.4 days in control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Even though our series is limited in patient number, these data suggested that temporary indwelling of self-expandable metal stent may obviate the need of staged operation in the treatment of MCO.