Expandable metal stents for gastric-outlet, duodenal, and small intestinal obstruction

The treatment of patients who have malignant gastric-outlet, duodenal and small intestinal obstructions is difficult. The morbidity and mortality of palliative surgery in these patients is significant. It is not uncommon for patients to be treated with supportive therapy only, which unfortunately, neither relieves the severe nausea and vomiting, nor allows adequate food intake. Over the past few years, a number of studies have reported the safety and efficacy of self-expanding metal stents used to palliate malignant upper gastrointestinal obstruction. In this article, the authors focus on the use of self-expanding metal stents to treat malignant gastric-outlet, duodenal, and small intestinal obstructions.