title: Self-expanding metallic stent as a bridge to surgery versus emergency surgery for obstructive colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of a colonic stent as a bridge to surgery aims to provide patients with elective one-stage surgical resection while reducing stoma creation and postoperative complications. This study used meta-analytic techniques to compare the outcomes of stent use as a bridge to surgery and emergency surgery in the management of obstructive colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search of Medline, Embase, Cochrane controlled trials registry, and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database was performed on all studies comparing stent as a bridge to surgery and emergency surgery for obstructive colorectal cancer. A meta-analysis of the included studies was carried out to identify the differences in outcomes between the two procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight studies matched the criteria for inclusion and reported on the outcomes of 601 patients, of whom 232 (38.6%) underwent stent insertion and 369 (61.4%) underwent emergency surgery. Fewer patients in the stent group needed intensive care (risk ratio [RR], 0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.19-0.93; p = 0.03) and stoma creation (RR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.50-0.99; p = 0.04). The primary anastomosis rate in the stent group was higher (RR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.21-2.16; p = 0.001). Overall complications (RR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.24-0.71; p = 0.001), including anastomotic leakage (RR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.14-0.69; p = 0.004), were reduced by stent insertion. Stent placement before elective surgery did not adversely affect mortality and long-term survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a stent as a bridge to surgery for obstructive left-sided colorectal cancer could increase the chance of primary anastomosis and reduce the need for stoma creation and postprocedural complications. Stent insertion before subsequent surgery has no effect on perioperative mortality and long-term survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Chun-Yan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Wei-Fen
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Yue-Xiang
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D003082:Colectomy / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D003125:Colostomy / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004630:Emergencies; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D017594:Publication Bias; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018401:Sample Size; D015607:Stents