Assessment of duodenal stent insertion attempted in 22 patients

Abstract

Since duodenal stenting became covered by health insurance in 2010, stent insertion has been performed for pyloric and duodenal stenosis. Of the patients who developed pyloric and duodenal obstruction associated with a malignant tumor between April 2010 and October 2012, we attempted to insert duodenal stent in 22 patients who were unwilling to undergo bypass surgery ; the stents were successfully placed in 19 patients.
The number of males with successful stent insertion was higher than that of females, with a male-to-female ratio of 15 : 4. Average patient age was 73.7 years, and mean stenosis length was 39.95 mm (minimum 20 mm, maximum 100 mm) . Oral intake was reinitiated within an average of 2.25 days ; 84% (16/19) patients were able to consume 100% rice gruel. The average rate of successful stent insertion was 86% (19/22) . However, gastrointestinal perforation occurred as a serious complication in one patient. Our study results suggest that duodenal stent insertion can be considered as an effective therapeutic approach for pyloric and duodenal stenosis associated with high-grade advanced cancer.