Tertiary Care Center Trends in Colonic Stent Placement over the Past Decade

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Endoscopic Procedures
• Colorectal Surgery

Background:

• Colonic endoluminal stent placement is a standard endoscopic treatment for malignant large bowel obstruction.
• Its use for benign conditions is emerging, but real-world data on evolving practices are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in colonic stent utilization over a decade.
• To evaluate changes in patient demographics and indications for the procedure.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of colonic stent procedures over 10 years at a tertiary academic medical center.
• Comparison of patient and procedural characteristics between the first and second 5-year intervals.

Main Results:

• Colonic stent placement frequency significantly increased over time (22 vs. 49 procedures).
• The median patient age decreased significantly in the latter period (81.41 vs. 58.73 years).
• Indications for colonic stenting broadened, including benign etiologies.

Conclusions:

• Colonic stent placement has seen increased utilization and broader application, including for benign conditions.
• A notable trend is the decrease in patient age undergoing the procedure.
• Findings inform clinical practice and future research directions for colonic stenting.