Long-term results of endoscopic balloon dilation for treatment of colorectal anastomotic stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Despite standardized techniques, anastomotic complications after colorectal resection remain a challenging problem. Among those, anastomotic stricture is a debilitating outcome which often requires multiple interventions and which is prone to recur. The present series investigates the long-term results of endoscopic balloon dilation for stenotic colorectal anastomosis. METHODS: Consecutive patients from a single institution who presented with an anastomotic stenosis after a colorectal resection were identified using a prospective clinical database. Medical records were systematically reviewed to detail patients' outcomes. RESULTS: Over 17 years (1988-2015), 2361 consecutive patients underwent a colorectal anastomosis. Of those, 76 patients (3.2 %) suffered a symptomatic anastomotic stenosis within a median of 5 months (interquartile range (IQR) 2-13) of the index procedure. All stenoses were primarily treated by endoscopic balloon dilation. Median follow-up was 11 years (IQR 7-14). In half the patients, one to two attempts at endoscopic balloon dilation definitively relieved the stenosis. Overall, the median number of endoscopic balloon dilation required was 3 (IQR 2-3). Recurrence rates at 1 year, 3 year, and 5 year were 11, 22, and 25 %, respectively. Median time to recurrence was 12 months (IQR 3-24). Ultimately, two patients (2.6 %) underwent an operation due to failure of endoscopic treatment. All other patients (97.4 %) were treated successfully with endoscopic balloon dilation. A total of 12 patients (15.7 %) suffered a complication from endoscopic dilation. Of those, 11 were minor bleeding and one was a perforation at the level of the anastomosis. All complications were managed conservatively, and no emergency procedure was required as a consequence of attempted endoscopic balloon dilation. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic balloon dilation is a safe approach to effectively relieve an anastomotic stenosis following a colorectal resection.

Malignant gastroduodenal obstruction: treatment with self-expanding uncovered wallstent.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a self-expanding uncovered Wallstent in patients with malignant gastroduodenal obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Under combined endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance, 29 patients with a malignant gastroduodenal stenosis were treated with a self-expanding uncovered metallic Wallstent. A dysphagia score was assessed before and after the intervention to measure the success of this palliative therapy. The dysphagia score ranged between grade 0 to grade 4: grade 0 = able to tolerate solid food, grade 1 = able to tolerate soft food, grade 2 = able to tolerate thick liquids, grade 3 = able to tolerate water or clear fluids, and grade 4 = unable to tolerate anything perorally. Stent patency and patients survival rates were calculated. RESULTS: The insertion of the gastroduodenal stent was technically successful in 28 patients (96.5%). After stenting, 25 patients (86.2%) showed clinical improvement by at least one score point. During follow-up, 22 (78.5%) of 28 patients showed no stent occlusion until death and did not have to undergo any further intervention. In six patients (20.6%), all of whom were treated with secondary stent insertions, occlusion with tumor ingrowth and/or overgrowth was observed after the intervention. The median period of primary stent patency in our study was 240 days. CONCLUSION: Placement of an uncovered Wallstent is clinically effective in patients with malignant gastroduodenal obstruction. Stent placement is associated with high technical success, good palliation effect, and high durability of stent function.

Colorectal stenting: an effective therapy for preoperative and palliative treatment.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the effectiveness of preoperative and palliative colorectal stent placement in acute colonic obstruction. METHODS: Sixty-seven consecutive patients (mean age 67.3 years, range 25-93 years) with clinical and radiological signs of colonic obstruction were treated: 45 (67%) preoperatively and 22 (33%) with a palliative intent. In 59 patients (88%) the obstruction was malignant, while in 8 (12%) it was benign. A total of 73 enteric Wallstents were implanted under combined fluoroscopic/endoscopic guidance. RESULTS: Forty-five patients were treated preoperatively with a technical success rate of 84%, a clinical success rate of 83%, and a complication rate of 16%. Of the 38 patients who were successfully stented preoperatively, 36 (95%) underwent surgery 2-22 days (mean 7.2 days) after stent insertion. The improved general condition and adequate bowel cleansing allowed single-stage tumor resection and primary end-to-end anastomosis without complications in 31 cases (86% of all operations), while only 5 patients had colostomies. Stent placement was used as the final palliative treatment in 22 patients. The technical success rate was 95%, the clinical success rate 72%, and the complication rate relatively high at 67%, caused by reocclusion in most cases. After noninvasive secondary interventions (e.g., tube placement, second stenting, balloon dilatation) the secondary patency of stents was 71% and mean reported survival time after stent insertion was 92 days (range 10-285 days). CONCLUSION: Preoperative stent placement in acute colonic obstruction is minimally invasive and allows an elective one-stage surgery in most cases. Stent placement also proved a valuable alternative to avoid colostomy in palliation.