Self-expandable metal stents for malignant gastric outlet obstruction: a modified technique.
OBJECTIVE
Endoscopic palliative treatment may be effective in the management of malignant gastric outlet obstruction. However, experience in this area is limited, and the techniques vary widely. In this retrospective study, a uniform technique using nearly identical self-expandable metal stents was employed to assess technical feasibility, safety, and outcome.


METHODS
Eight patients presenting with clinical findings of gastric outlet obstruction confirmed by upper gastrointestinal radiography underwent endoscopic placement of expandable metal stents. All patients had primary or metastatic malignancy involving the pylorus or duodenum. Endoscopic and Gastrografin-enhanced upper gastrointestinal radiographic evaluations were carried out immediately after stent placement. Complications and clinical outcomes were assessed in each patient.


RESULTS
Five patients had extrinsic compression of the descending duodenum due to pancreatic cancer, two had pyloric stenosis from metastatic cancer, and one patient had primary duodenal cancer. Stent placement was successful in all patients, and was followed by clinical improvement. There was one death within 30 days, related to pneumonia.


CONCLUSIONS
Endoscopic self-expandable stent placement appears to be a reasonable therapeutic alternative in patients with malignant gastric outlet obstruction.
Venu
R P
RP
Section of Digestive and Liver Diseases, University of Illinois at Chicago, 60612-7323, USA. venugop@execpc.com
Pastika
B J
BJ
Kini
M
M
Chua
D
D
Christian
R
R
Schlais
J
J
Brown
R D
RD
D000368:Aged; D004379:Duodenal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D017219:Gastric Outlet Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D011708:Pylorus; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000150:complications