title: Rectal metal stents for palliation of colorectal malignant stenosis.
abstract: Thirteen patients with colorectal obstructing tumors were submitted to endoscopic insertion of self-expanding metal stents to restore luminal patency. The procedure was performed entirely under endoscopic control, without using fluoroscopy, during a 1-day hospitalization. The prostheses were correctly placed in 12/13 patients (92%), with no immediate complications. The mean follow-up is 7 months. Ten out of 12 patients (83%) had a permanent restoration of the luminal patency; they experienced no pain, tenesmus or any other discomfort during the follow-up period. In the remaining 2 patients long-term complications occurred and were treated by endoscopy in 1 case, and by surgical resection in the 2nd case. Self-expanding metal stents proved to be safe and effective; the main drawbacks, at present, are the lack of effectiveness of these devices in case of a fistula and their high costs.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Divisione di Diagnostica e Chirurgia Endoscopica, Milano, Italia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spinelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dal Fante
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mancini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D015607:Stents