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Palliation of malignant rectal obstruction with self-expanding metal stents
Michael Hünerbein1, Matthias Krause, Kurt T Moesta
1Department of Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Charité Campus Bach, Robert-Roessle-Hospital and Helios Hospital Berlin, Lindenberger Weg 80, 13125 Berlin, Germany.
Background:
Surgical management of patients with metastatic or recurrent rectal cancer remains controversial. Self-expanding metal stents are increasingly used for palliative treatment of advanced tumors, although long-term results are not yet available.
Methods:
Between 1996 and 2003, 521 patients underwent surgery for rectal neoplasms. In the same time period, self-expanding metal stents were used for palliation of 34 patients with malignant rectal obstruction and incurable disease. The outcome of the patients was analyzed retrospectively.
Results:
Rectal stents were successfully placed in 33 of 34 patients (97%) without major complications. Early failure occurred in 7 patients (21%) because of stent migration, pain, or incontinence. Long-term success with a mean patency of 5.3 months was observed in 26 patients (79%), but restenting was required in 2 patients. Despite the initial success of stenting, a colostomy was created in 2 other patients after 3.4 months and 9.2 months because of incontinence and rectovesical fistula. Overall, 6 of 33 patients (18%) underwent palliative surgery because of early complications (n = 4) or long-term failure of stent treatment (n = 2).
Conclusions:
Self-expanding metal stents are useful to avoid a colostomy in selected patients with incurable rectal cancer and limited life expectancy. Nonetheless, a considerable number (18%) of patients will require surgical palliation because of failure of stent treatment.
