Metallic stents in the treatment of benign diseases of the colon: preliminary experience in 10 cases.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of and complications associated with metallic stent placement for treatment of benign diseases of the colon.


METHODS
With radiologic guidance, the authors placed metallic stents in 10 patients with benign diseases of the colon: Nine stents were placed in the rectosigmoid colon, and one was placed in the descending colon. The stents were placed in two cases of diverticulitis complicated by pelvic abscess, four cases of colonic fistula following surgery, and four cases of postsurgical anastomotic stricture. Coated stents were placed in the cases involving fistulas and diverticulitis.


RESULTS
In the two cases of diverticulitis complicated by pelvic abscess, the coated stents helped to resolve the abscesses, but both patients subsequently developed complications: fistula and perforation. Of the four cases of colonic fistula, two were resolved with stent placement. In the four cases of postsurgical stenosis, the stents temporarily relieved the symptoms of obstruction, but additional treatments were required before the patients became entirely asymptomatic.


CONCLUSIONS
Metallic stents may represent an effective temporary treatment for certain benign colonic conditions in the absence of other therapeutic alternatives.
Paúl
Laura
L
Department of Radiology, University Getafe Hospital, Carretera de Toledo Km 12,5, 28905 Getafe, Madrid, Spain. laura.paul@teleline.es
Pinto
Isabel
I
Gómez
Helena
H
Fernández-Lobato
Rosa
R
Moyano
Emilio
E
D000368:Aged; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D015607:Stents; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001466:Barium Sulfate