The effectiveness of using a colorectal stent in the treatment of malignant obstruction

Abstract

In 2012, treatment using Self-Expandable Metallic Stent (SEMS) for colorectal cancer bowel obstruction started being covered under insurance in Japan. In addition to being effective for Bridge To Surgery (BTS), the use of SEMS involved a good success rate and symptom improvement rate. We analyzed 11 patients (seven men and four women, average age; 70 years) for whom SEMS insertion was performed at our hospital for BTS from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018.

The stenosis site was the transverse colon in four patients, the descending colon in four patients, and the sigmoid colon in three patients. All cases of SEMS insertion were successful. The colon obstruction score improved in all patients, and primary anastomosis became possible. In addition to the high safety and good short-term results of metal stenting for BTS, there was no statistically significant difference in reports comparing long-term prognosis with emergency surgery. These results suggest that the use of SEMS for BTS is effective in the treatment of malignant colorectal stenosis.