Radiologic Placement of Uncovered Stents for the Treatment of Malignant Colonic Obstruction Proximal to the Descending Colon

Value of interventional radiology and their contributions to modern medical systems

Interventional radiology (IR) is a unique specialty that incorporates a diverse set of skills ranging from imaging, procedures, consultation, and patient management. Understanding how IR generates value to the healthcare system is important to review from various perspectives. IR specialists need to understand how to meet demands from various stakeholders to expand their practice improving patient care. Thus, this review discusses the domains of value contributed to medical systems and outlines the parameters of success. IR benefits five distinct parties: patients, practitioners, payers, employers, and innovators. Value to patients and providers is delivered through a wide set of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Payers and hospital systems financially benefit from the reduced cost in medical management secondary to fast patient recovery, outpatient procedures, fewer complications, and the prestige of offering diverse expertise for complex patients. Lastly, IR is a field of rapid innovation implementing new procedural technology and techniques. Overall, IR must actively advocate for further growth and influence in the medical field as their value continues to expand in multiple domains. Despite being a nascent specialty, IR has become indispensable to modern medical practice.

Colon stenting as a bridge to surgery in obstructive colorectal cancer management

Colonic stent placement is a commonly used bridging strategy for surgery in patients with obstructive colorectal cancer. The procedure involves the placement of a self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) across the obstructive lesion to restore intestinal patency and alleviate the symptoms of obstruction. By allowing patients to receive surgery in a planned and staged manner with time for preoperative optimization and bowel preparation, stent placement may reduce the need for emergency surgery, which is associated with higher complication rates and poorer outcomes. This review focuses on the role of colon stenting as a bridge to surgery in the management of obstructive colorectal cancer. SEMS as a bridge to surgery for left-sided colon cancer has been demonstrated to be particularly useful; however, further research is needed for its application in cases of right-sided colon cancer. Colon stent placement also has limitations and potential complications including stent migration, re-obstruction, and perforation. However, the timing of curative surgery after SEMS placement remains inconclusive. Considering the literature to date, performing surgery at an interval of approximately 2 weeks is considered appropriate. Therefore, colonic stent placement may be an effective strategy as a bridge to surgery in patients with obstructive colorectal cancer.

Application of metal stent implantation with endoscope and X-ray fluoroscopy combined laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of acute left hemicolon cancer obstruction

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to conduct a case-control study of endoscopic and fluoroscopic metal stent placement combined with laparoscopic surgery versus conventional open Hartmann's procedure in treating acute left-sided colon cancer obstruction. Additionally, the study aims to discuss the application value of endoscopic and X-ray-guided metal stent placement combined with laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of acute left-sided colon cancer obstruction.

METHODS

From June 2011 to December 2019, 23 patients with acute left-sided colon cancer obstruction who underwent metal stent implantation combined with laparoscopic surgery under endoscopy and X-ray fluoroscopy in Wenzhou Central Hospital were collected, and 20 patients with acute left-sided colon cancer obstruction who underwent traditional emergency open Hartmann's surgery during the same period were selected as a control group. All patients were diagnosed with left colon obstruction by plain abdominal film and/or CT before the operation and colon adenocarcinoma by colonoscopic biopsy and/or postoperative pathology. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative anal exhaust time, the success rate of one-stage anastomosis, postoperative hospital stay, and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

This study showed a significant difference in the therapeutic effect between the two groups. Compared with the traditional Hartmann's operation group, the success rate of one-stage anastomosis in endoscopic and X-ray-guided metal stent placement combined with the laparoscopic operation group was significantly higher than that in the Hartmann's operation group (P < 0.05). The overall incidence of postoperative complications and hospital stay were significantly lower in the observation group than in the Hartmann's group (P < 0.05). Further subgroup analysis of the overall postoperative complication rate of the two groups showed that the traditional Hartmann's operation group was more likely to have an incomplete intestinal obstruction (P < 0.05). This study also showed no significant differences between the two groups in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, number of harvested lymph nodes, and postoperative anal exhaust time (all P > 0.05). This study also found no significant differences between the two groups in overall survival rates or recurrence-free survival rates (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The comparison of the therapeutic effects of the two groups verified the feasibility of endoscopy combined with X-ray fluoroscopy metal stent placement in combination with laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of acute left-sided colon cancer obstruction. Compared with the traditional emergency open Hartmann's procedure, metal stent implantation under endoscopy and X-ray fluoroscopy combined with laparoscopic surgery is more minimally invasive, safe, and effective. It avoids the traditional second or even third surgical trauma to effectively improve the quality of life of patients, so that patients can recover quickly after surgery.

The clinical outcomes of the radiologic method for self-expandable metal-stent placement in patients with colorectal obstruction: A prospective study

OBJECTIVES

To assess the clinical outcomes of self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) placement for patients with colorectal obstruction.

METHODS

A total of 61 patients underwent SEMS placement using computerized tomography (CT) to confirm malignancy of intrinsic origin and evaluate the exact location, notch, and extent of the disruptive laceration.

RESULTS

The overall technical success rate and clinical success rate of SEMS placement using the radiological method were 59 (96.7%) and 57 (93.4%), respectively. The technical success rate and clinical success rate of SEMS placement in the palliative and bridge to elective surgery (BTS) groups were 35 (97.2%), 24 (96.0%), 33 (91.7%), and 24 (96.0%). The median cumulative primary stent patency duration and patients' survival of SEMS placement was 123 days (95% CI, 65-123 days), and 133 days (95% CI, 72-133 days). The median cumulative primary stent patency duration and patient survival did not differ significantly between the palliative group 119 days; (95% CI, 59-119 days), 128 days; (95% CI, 71-128 days), and the BTS group 120 days; (95% CI, 68-120 days; p = 0.362), 130 days; (95% CI, 78-130 days); p = 0.412).

CONCLUSIONS

The colorectal obstruction had convoluted with curved angulation and located mainly at the rectum, sigmoid, descending colon, and the radiologic method of SEMS placement has more efficacious with a high technical and clinical success rate. However, SEMS placement was highly technical, and clinical success with median stent patency and patient survival did not differ significantly between the palliative group and the BTS group.

Malignant obstruction in the ileocecal region treated by self-expandable stent placement under the fluoroscopic guidance: A case report

BACKGROUND

Malignant tumors of the ileocecal region often cause intestinal obstruction. Emergency surgery is the main treatment for patients presenting with an obstruction. However, this procedure is associated with a high mortality rate and frequent complications. The placement of colon stents is commonly performed for obstructions in the distal colon and is a less invasive and safer procedure. However, obstructions in the proximal colon are more challenging to treat by stent placement due to the increased distance from the anus.

CASE SUMMARY

This case report concerns an 88-year-old man with malignant intestinal obstruction in the ileocecal region. He was contraindicated for general anesthesia and surgical enterostomy. The placement of a self-expandable metallic stent seems an alternative to surgery, although stenting in this area is thought to be difficult and few studies have been reported so far. After three attempts at different interventional approaches, a stent was successfully placed in the obstructed segment under fluoroscopic guidance. After the procedure, the patient's abdominal distension and abdominal pain were significantly better than before.

CONCLUSION

For patients with proximal colonic obstruction, self-expandable metallic stent placement under fluoroscopic guidance could be considered as a feasible treatment to relieve abdominal distension and pain in patients with acute bowel obstruction. It has the characteristics of high safety and high patient tolerance. However, further study is still needed.

Recent Updates in Gastrointestinal Stent Placement from the Esophagus to the Colon: A Radiological Perspective

Fluoroscopic-guided stent placement has become an advantageous treatment option for diverse gastrointestinal disorders. In addition to palliative stent placement in patients with inoperable cancers, stenting has gradually expanded to other conditions, including as a bridge to surgery, as well as in patients' benign lesions and anastomotic strictures or leaks. This narrative review describes the indications, efficacy and safety of stent placement from the esophagus to the colon, including current recommendations, recent updates, and novel stents.

Fluoroscopic Rescue of Failed Endoscopic Stent Placement for Obstructing Colorectal Malignancy

OBJECTIVE. This study evaluated the technical feasibility and clinical effectiveness of fluoroscopic stent placement in malignant colorectal obstructions after failed endoscopic stent placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Between January 2004 and December 2017, 41 patients with malignant colorectal obstructions were referred for fluoroscopic stent placement after failed endoscopy. The procedures were performed for palliation (n = 35) or as a bridge to surgery (n = 6). The technical and clinical success, complications, stent patency duration, and patient survival were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS. Fluoroscopic stent placement was technically successful in 38 patients (92.7%). The causes of technical failure were complete obstruction (n = 1), redundant sigmoid colon (n = 1), and colon perforation (n = 1). Clinical success was achieved in 37 patients with technical success (97.4%). Major complications occurred in three patients (7.9%) and included colon perforation (n = 2) and anal pain (n = 1). The six patients with stenting as a bridge to surgery underwent elective colectomy uneventfully (100%). In 32 patients with technically successful palliative stenting, the median primary stent patency duration and patient survival were 353 days (95% CI, 162-353 days) and 335 days (95% CI, 116-335 days), respectively. CONCLUSION. Fluoroscopic colorectal stent placement is technically feasible and clinically effective in most patients with failed endoscopic procedures.