title: Endoscopic gastroenteric anastomosis using magnets.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Current management of malignant obstruction of the upper digestive tract includes surgical gastrointestinal bypass or endoscopic insertion of self-expandable metal stents. The safety, efficacy, and long-term patency rates of anastomoses created using the novel technique of endoscopic gastroenteric anastomosis using magnets (EGAM) are evaluated in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  15 patients (13 men, 2 women; mean age 64.5 years) with malignant obstruction, who underwent EGAM and had monthly follow-up between December 2001 and May 2003, were included in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The procedure was successful in 13 patients (88.66 %). The mean survival was 5.23 months. There were four minor complications (30.76 %) during the follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate the feasibility, safety. and efficacy of this technique for creating a gastroenteric anastomosis. The success rate was 86.6 %, there were no immediate complications, and there was no mortality related to the procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, San Martin Hospital, La Plata, Argentina. chopita@netverk.com.ar
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chopita
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaillaverde
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cope
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernedo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Landoni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jmelnitzky
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Burgos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D004386:Duodenum / Q000601:surgery*; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017219:Gastric Outlet Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015607:Stents; D013270:Stomach / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome