title: Stent versus gastrojejunostomy for the palliation of gastric outlet obstruction: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastrojejunostomy (GJJ) is the most commonly used palliative treatment modality for malignant gastric outlet obstruction. Recently, stent placement has been introduced as an alternative treatment. We reviewed the available literature on stent placement and GJJ for gastric outlet obstruction, with regard to medical effects and costs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review of the literature was performed by searching PubMed for the period January 1996 and January 2006. A total of 44 publications on GJJ and stents was identified and reported results on medical effects and costs were pooled and evaluated. Results from randomized and comparative studies were used for calculating odds ratios (OR) to compare differences between the two treatment modalities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2 randomized trials, stent placement was compared with GJJ (with 27 and 18 patients in each trial). In 6 comparative studies, stent placement was compared with GJJ. Thirty-six series evaluated either stent placement or GJJ. A total of 1046 patients received a duodenal stent and 297 patients underwent GJJ. No differences between stent placement and gastrojejunostomy were found in technical success (96% vs. 100%), early and late major complications 7% vs. 6% and 18% vs. 17%, respectively) and persisting symptoms (8% vs. 9%). Initial clinical success was higher after stent placement (89% vs. 72%). Minor complications were less frequently seen after stent placement in the patient series (9% vs. 33%), however the pooled analysis showed no differences (OR: 0.75, p = 0.8). Recurrent obstructive symptoms were more common after stent placement (18% vs. 1%). Hospital stay was prolonged after GJJ compared to stent placement (13 days vs. 7 days). The mean survival was 105 days after stent placement and 164 days after GJJ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that stent placement may be associated with more favorable results in patients with a relatively short life expectancy, while GJJ is preferable in patients with a more prolonged prognosis. The paucity of evidence from large randomized trials may however have influenced the results and therefore a trial of sufficient size is needed to determine which palliative treatment modality is optimal in (sub)groups of patients with malignant gastric outlet obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC/University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands. s.jeurnink@erasmusmc.nl <s.jeurnink@erasmusmc.nl>
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jeurnink
authors.forename: Casper H J
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: van Eijck
authors.forename: Ewout W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Steyerberg
authors.forename: Ernst J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kuipers
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Siersema
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D017219:Gastric Outlet Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015607:Stents; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome