Stent collapse as a delayed complication of placement of a covered gastroduodenal stent

The purpose of this study was retrospective evaluation of the incidence, predictive factors, and interventional management of stent collapse after placement of a covered metallic stent in patients with obstruction of the gastric outlet or duodenum due to malignant disease.

Among 259 patients with symptomatic malignant gastroduodenal obstruction successfully treated with stent placement, stent collapse occurred in 12 (4.6%) of the patients 34-270 days (mean, 101.8 days) after stent placement. Multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate factors predictive of stent collapse. Interventional management of stent collapse also was evaluated.

Multivariate analysis showed that presence of the stent in the peripyloric region (odds ratio, 27.745; p = 0.036), longer survival time (odds ratio, 1.016; p < 0.001), and absence of chemotherapy after stent placement (odds ratio, 31.661; p = 0.048) were independent predictors of stent collapse. Eleven patients with stent collapse were successfully treated with placement of a second bare stent. The twelfth patient refused further treatment.

Stent collapse is an uncommon delayed complication of placement of covered metallic stents in patients with malignant gastroduodenal obstruction. Collapse occurs most commonly in the peripyloric region, in patients with longer survival times, and in patients who do not undergo chemotherapy after stent placement. Stent collapse can be managed by coaxial placement of a second bare stent into the collapsed stent.