title: Bridge-to-surgery stent placement versus emergency surgery for acute malignant colonic obstruction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endoscopic self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) placement as a bridge to surgery is an option for acute malignant colonic obstruction. There is ongoing debate regarding the superiority and oncological safety of SEMS placement compared with emergency surgery. This retrospective study aimed to compare outcomes of these treatment approaches.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were identified from cohorts treated between 2005 and 2012 in two teaching hospitals, of which one used emergency surgery only in patients with large bowel obstruction, whereas the other attempted SEMS placement. Only patients treated with curative intent were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 59 patients in whom SEMS placement was attempted and 51 who underwent surgery alone. The successful primary anastomosis rate was higher in the SEMS group than in the surgery-alone group among patients with left-sided obstruction (30 of 43 versus 10 of 34 respectively; P = 0.001), whereas stoma formation was less common (11 of 43 versus 23 of 34; P < 0.001). Such differences were not apparent in patients with right-sided obstruction. Secondary stoma rates were comparable between treatment approaches (left-sided: 11 of 43 versus 13 of 34, P = 0.322; right-sided: 1 of 16 versus 1 of 17, P = 1.000). There were no significant differences in morbidity, mortality, recurrence or survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic SEMS placement increased the primary anastomosis rate in patients with left-sided large bowel obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Deventer, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.forename: D A M
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Sloothaak
authors.forename: M G W
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Dijkgraaf
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: van der Zaag
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Bemelman
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Tanis
authors.forename: R J I
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bosker
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fockens
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: ter Borg
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: van Hooft
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil