[Endoscopic palliation of malignant gastric outlet obstruction by self-expanding metal stents].
BACKGROUND
Malignant gastric outlet stenosis is caused by tumour obstruction and restricts the oral intake of food, resulting in a seriously reduced quality of life. Endoscopic implantation of self expanding metal stents (SEMS) can clear stenosis in the GI-tract and reestablish and preserve the passage in the GI-tract.


METHODS
Between October 2001 and April 2003 seven patients with malignant gastric outlet stenosis have been treated by the implantation of SEMS. Four patients had malignant stenosis in the upper duodenum or gastric antrum, two patients had stenosis because of tumour recurrence in the efferent loop of the jejunum after gastric resection because of gastric carcinoma and one patient had an obstruction 20 cm distal of the oesophagus after gastrectomy because of gastric cancer.


RESULTS
In all patients obstruction was cleared by the implantation of SEMS, and oral intake of food was possible in all patients after two days. No serious complications occurred during or after stent implantation.


CONCLUSIONS
Stent implantation for the treatment of malignant gastric outlet stenosis is a cost effective procedure, associated with low risk and low stress for the patient, and provides excellent palliation of symptoms in patients with malignant gastric outlet stenosis.
el-Shabrawi
Azab
A
Klinische Abteilung für Allgemeinchirurgie, Universitätsklinik für Chirurgie, Graz, Osterreich. azab.elshabrawi@uni-graz.at
Cerwenka
Herwig
H
Bacher
Heinz
H
Schweiger
Josef
J
Kornprat
Peter
P
Mischinger
Hans-Jörg
HJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004379:Duodenal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D017219:Gastric Outlet Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007580:Jejunal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D011788:Quality of Life; D015607:Stents; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*
D008670:Metals