Short-term outcomes following the use of self-expanding metallic stents in acute malignant colonic obstruction – A single centre experience

• Management of obstructing colorectal cancer is challenging.
• Successful SEMS deployment obviates need for emergency surgery.
• Other benefits include shorter hospital stay and lower rates of permanent stomas.

Background: Colonic self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) may provide prompt relief of acute malignant colorectal obstruction (AMCO) and are increasingly used either palliatively or as a bridge to surgery (BTS) in patients in whom a definitive surgical approach is unsuitable. We evaluated short-term outcomes of malignant colorectal obstructive patients who underwent SEMS insertion in our institution over a 3-year period. Methods: A prospectively maintained database was reviewed to identify all patients who presented to our institution with AMCO between August 2010 and 2013 and who were treated with a SEMS either temporarily or permanently. Additional data was retrieved from chart reviews and operation notes. Results: Sixteen patients (12 males, 4 females) each had a single stent inserted during the study period, either palliatively (n = 11) or as a BTS (n = 5). The technical and clinical success rates were both 87.5% (14/16). The two unsuccessful stenting cases both had disseminated disease and required emergency surgery while five patients with curable disease proceeded to elective resections. There was no procedure-related mortality or stent-related perforations. The mean (standard deviation) length of stay post acute surgery was longer than elective surgery [45 ± 21.2 vs. 15.8 ± 4.0, days]. All patients in the BTS group were stoma-free post-operatively, while both patients who had emergency surgery ended up with permanent stomas. Finally, the stent complication rate was 6.2% (1/16), secondary to migration. Conclusions: Although limited by a small sample size, the study shows that SEMS have favourable short-term outcomes. Further adequately powered trials are needed to confirm those findings.