Endoscopic management of malignant gastric outlet obstruction

Malignant gastric outlet obstruction (MGOO) is a late complication of advanced malignancies, mostly occurring due to gastrointestinal cancers or external compression outside the lumen. It causes nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, weight loss, and decreased quality of life. In the past, surgical bypass was the gold standard for the management of MGOO. However, the introduction of self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) provides several advantages over surgical bypass, including earlier oral intake, rapid symptom relief, less invasiveness, and shorter hospital stays; therefore, it has replaced surgical bypass as the mainstream management approach in most situations. Although SEMS placement is a safe and effective way for palliation of MGOO, stent dysfunction with obstruction or migration limits the utilization and increases repeated intervention. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastroenterostomy with lumen-apposing metal stent has emerged as an alternative way to bypass the obstruction site and restore the oral intake of patients. Although a lower stent dysfunction rate was reported, further prospective studies are warranted to validate its effectiveness and safety.