title: Gastroduodenal stent placement: current status.
abstract: Gastroduodenal obstruction is a preterminal event in patients with advanced malignancies of the stomach, pancreas, and duodenum. It severely limits the quality of life in affected patients due to constant emesis and associated malnutrition. Surgical gastrojejunostomy has been the traditional palliative treatment but is associated with a high complication rate, and delayed gastric emptying is a frequent problem. Gastroduodenal stent placement is a very safe and effective palliation method in patients with unresectable malignant tumors causing gastric outlet obstruction, with adequate palliation obtained in most cases. The procedure can be performed under fluoroscopic guidance or with a combination of fluoroscopic and endoscopic techniques. Advantages of gastroduodenal stent placement over surgical palliation include suitability as an outpatient procedure, more rapid gastric emptying, greater cost effectiveness, fewer complications, and improved quality of life. Covered duodenal stents are currently being evaluated and may play an increasingly important role in preventing recurrent obstruction secondary to tumor ingrowth. Moreover, simultaneous palliation of biliary and duodenal malignant strictures is possible with the use of metallic stents. Gastroduodenal stent placement is a promising new alternative for the palliation of malignant gastroduodenal obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, 1542 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. jloper@lsuhsc.edu
authors.forename: Jorge E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lopera
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brazzini
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonzales
authors.forename: Wilfrido R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Castaneda-Zuniga
mesh_terms: D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D017219:Gastric Outlet Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D015607:Stents