Severity of initial stent angulation predicts reintervention after successful palliative enteral stenting for malignant luminal obstruction

Predictors of self-expanding metallic stent dysfunction in malignant gastric outlet obstruction

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) are the ideal treatment for malignant gastric outlet obstruction (MGOO) in patients with a short life expectancy, but stent dysfunction is frequent. The primary aim of our study was to identify the predictive factors of SEMS dysfunction in MGOO and the secondary aim was to determine the technical success, clinical success, and nutritional impact after SEMS placement.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective, longitudinal study was conducted at the gastrointestinal endoscopy department of the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología in Mexico City. Patients diagnosed with MGOO that underwent SEMS placement within the time frame of January 2015 to May 2018 were included. We utilized the gastric outlet obstruction scoring system (GOOSS) to determine clinical success and SEMS dysfunction.

RESULTS

The study included 43 patients, technical success was 97.7% (n=42), and clinical success was 88.3% (n=38). SEMS dysfunction presented in 30.2% (n=13) of the patients, occurring in<6 months after placement in 53.8% (n=7) of them. In the univariate analysis, the histologic subtype, diffuse gastric adenocarcinoma (p=0.02) and the use of uncovered SEMS (p=0.02) were the variables associated with dysfunction. Albumin levels and body mass index did not increase after SEMS placement. Medical follow-up was a mean 5.8 months (1-24 months).

CONCLUSIONS

SEMS demonstrated adequate technical and clinical efficacy in the treatment of MGOO. SEMS dysfunction was frequent and diffuse type gastric cancer and uncovered SEMS appeared to be dysfunction predictors.

The Great View Forward: The Use of a Colonoscope for Distal Duodenal Stent Placement

INTRODUCTION

Stent placement in the distal duodenum can be difficult. We describe a case report of a 94-year-old man with metastatic pancreatic head cancer compressing the third and fourth portions of the duodenum, treated by endoscopic stent placement using a colonoscope.

AREAS COVERED

A literature review highlighted two possible procedures for stent placement in the distal duodenum, namely forward-viewing and side-viewing endoscopies. Gastroscopes, duodenoscopes, enteroscopes, and colonoscopes have all been suggested for the purpose. For distal lesions, especially when the duodenal wall is stiffened due to compression or infiltration by neoplastic lesions, a conventional upper endoscope can be too short to reach the narrowed site in "push mode," necessitating the use of a longer endoscope.

EXPERT COMMENTARY

A colonoscope can be safely and effectively used to accomplish distal duodenal stent placement.

The utility and efficacy of self-expandable metal stents for treating malignant gastric outlet obstructions in patients under best supportive care

PURPOSE

Self-expandable metallic stents (SEMSs) may be used to effectively palliate malignant gastric outlet obstructions (GOOs), but their utility and efficacy in patients under best supportive care (BSC) have not been explored.

METHOD

In this multicenter retrospective study, we reviewed data on patients under BSC who underwent endoscopic SEMS placement to treat malignant GOO without chemotherapy. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of the procedure.

RESULTS

We enrolled a total of 208 patients. SEMS placement was technically successful in 207 (99.5%) and clinically successful in 164 (78.8%). The mean procedure time was 25.6 ± 2.8 min. Stent dysfunction later developed in 30 (14.4%) patients, of whom 90% (27/30) underwent reintervention. The procedure-related mortality rate was 1.44%; all deaths were due to pneumonia. Subgroup analysis by Karnofsky performance status (KPS) revealed that neither technical success, stent dysfunction, reintervention rate, procedure-related pneumonia or death, nor death within 14 days differed between patients with good and poor KPS. However, the clinical success rate and the median survival time were significantly lower and shorter, respectively, in those with poor KPS (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Duodenal SEMS placement is an effective palliative treatment for malignant GOO in BSC patients. Although the GOO score did not dramatically improve in patients with poor KPS, the procedure was safe and palliatively feasible. Procedure-related pneumonia was fatal; thus, it is essential to proceed with great caution.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical trial registration number: UMIN000028367.

The location of obstruction predicts stent occlusion in malignant gastric outlet obstruction

BACKGROUND

Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) can occur with locally invasive or metastatic cancer involving the upper gastrointestinal tract at the pylorus or the duodenum. Endoscopic management with self-expanding metal stents (SEMSs) is often the preferred palliative approach. Stent occlusion is a common reason for failure and reintervention. We set out to determine whether the location of the malignant obstruction is associated with the angulation of the stent and can predict stent occlusion.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent successful duodenal stenting with SEMS for malignant GOO between 2006 and 2015 at a large advanced endoscopy referral center. We determined the location of obstruction, the stent angle, and the rate of technical and clinical success of stent placement. We then identified cases of subsequent stent occlusion confirmed by endoscopic evaluation.

RESULTS

A total of 100 consecutive patients were included in the study; 91 of these patients had enough data to evaluate SEMS occlusion. A total of 21 patients (23%) developed stent occlusion with a median time of 39 days. The risk of occlusion sequentially increased as the obstruction occurred more distally from the antrum to the third or fourth portion of the duodenum (p = 0.006). This relationship was maintained after controlling for stent angle (p = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

A distal location of malignant GOO was strongly predictive of stent occlusion, independent of stent angle. This may be due to longer and more complex distal obstructions, along with foreshortening of the stent during placement and tumor infiltration. If replicated, these results will have implications for endoscopic practice and future device development.

Outcome of self-expandable metallic stent deployment in patients with malignant gastroduodenal outlet obstruction and Niti-S and WallFlex comparison: a multicenter retrospective clinical study

OBJECTIVES

Several studies report on the outcomes of self-expandable metallic stents (SEMSs) deployment for malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). However, data was mostly based on the analysis of single-center studies including only a small number of patients. This study aimed to evaluate clinical outcomes after the deployment of SEMS in patients with malignant GOO and to compare the clinical outcomes of two metallic stents with different designs.

METHODS

Altogether 125 consecutive patients from five institutions were included. Clinical outcomes were evaluated according to technical success, clinical success, stent patency period, survival period and complications. A comparison of clinical outcomes between Niti-S pyloric/duodenal and WallFlex duodenal stents was also undertaken.

RESULTS

Rates for clinical and technical success were 100% and 92.0%, respectively. The median stent patency and survival periods were 72.0 days (range 3-775 days) and 75.0 days (range 3-775 days), respectively. The rate of overall adverse events was 28.8%. The rate of stent dysfunction was 16.8%, and that of adverse events, except stent dysfunction was 12.0%. Massive bleeding occurred in two patients as a late complication. The clinical success rate for Niti-S stent was significantly higher than that for WallFlex stent (96.2% vs 84.8%, P = 0.023).

CONCLUSIONS

We successfully deployed a SEMS in malignant GOO. The selection of a SEMS with a lower axial force may be important for patients to resume the oral food intake. Additionally, consideration must be given to the appropriate management of fatal bleeding as a late complication.

Stent under-expansion on the procedure day, a predictive factor for poor oral intake after metallic stenting for gastric outlet obstruction

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) have been widely accepted as palliation therapy for malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). However, the factors predictive of poor oral intake after SEMS placement have not been elucidated sufficiently. We aimed to clarify both the patient and stent-related predictive factors.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 126 consecutive patients who underwent uncovered SEMS placement for malignant GOO between April 2010 and March 2013 at a university hospital and two tertiary care referral centers.

RESULTS

Technical success of SEMS placement was achieved in all 126 (100%) patients. Improved oral intake was observed in 111 (88.1%) patients. A Karnofsky performance status ≤ 40 (odds ratio [OR], 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.28; P = 0.041), peritoneal dissemination (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.01-1.26; P = 0.038), and under-expansion of the SEMS on the procedure day (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.26-1.62; P < 0.001) were independent predictive factors for poor improvement on the GOO scoring system, according to multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

SEMS under-expansion was a stent related, while poor performance status and peritoneal dissemination were patient related, predictive factors for poor oral intake after SEMS placement for malignant GOO.

Gastroduodenal stenting with Niti-S stent: long-term benefits and additional stent intervention

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Self-expandable metallic stents have mainly been used for the palliation of malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). However, their use in long-term survivors and the feasibility, safety and benefit of additional intervention for stent dysfunction remain controversial. The present study examined the long-term benefits of endoscopic gastroduodenal stenting.

METHODS

We reviewed 61 patients treated with Niti-S stents at several hospitals and estimated the efficacy of stent intervention, stent patency, eating period and factors related to poor effectiveness.

RESULTS

All 61 first stent interventions and 14 additional stent interventions (11 second interventions and 3 third interventions) were successfully carried out. Clinical success rates were 83.6% and 85.7%, and median stent patency was 214 days and 146 days (P = 0.47), respectively. Fifty patients could be treated with a first stent only, and 11 patients received additional stents. At the time of study termination or death, 70.0% of the former group and 63.6% of the latter group maintained oral intake (P = 0.71), and each 86% and 100% among the group could maintain oral intake for a period exceeding half of their remaining lives after first stent intervention. Karnofsky performance status ≤50 (P = 0.03), ascites (P = 0.009), and peritoneal dissemination (P = 0.001) appeared to be factors related to poor effectiveness.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the presence of factors related to poor effectiveness, endoscopic gastroduodenal stenting would be the first treatment of choice for GOO and provide long-term benefits. If stent dysfunction occurs, additional stent intervention enables continued oral intake safely.

Endoscopic treatment of malignant gastric and duodenal strictures: a prospective, multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Malignant gastric outlet obstruction is often treated by stent placement.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the outcomes of stent placement in the palliative treatment of malignant neoplasms.

DESIGN

Prospective, observational, multicenter registry.

SETTING

Six tertiary care centers in 5 countries.

PATIENTS

A total of 108 adult patients with malignant gastric outlet obstruction.

INTERVENTIONS

Placement of an uncovered, self-expandable, metal duodenal stent.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

The primary endpoint was stent patency at 14 days after stent implantation. Secondary endpoints included stent patency at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months, gastric outlet obstruction scoring system (GOOSS) scores at 14 days and 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after stent deployment, technical success, adverse events, and patient survival (ie, confirmed duration of the implant).

RESULTS

Technical success was achieved in 99.1% of stent placements. Stent patency at 14 days was 94.6%. Kaplan-Meier estimates of stent patency were 92.9% at 1 month, 86.2% at 2 months, 81.9% at 3 months, and 63.4% at 6 months. At 14 days, GOOSS scores increased by a median of 1 point. The overall GI adverse event rate was 32.4%; however, the stent-related adverse event rate was 19.4%. The median implant duration was 47 days (range 0-195 days).

LIMITATIONS

Observational study, no control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Duodenal stent placement resulted in prompt relief of malignant gastric outlet obstruction and improved GOOSS scores. (

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT00991614.).

Comparison of uncovered and covered stents for the treatment of malignant duodenal obstruction caused by pancreaticobiliary cancer

BACKGROUND

Few clinical studies to date have compared different types of self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) and their outcomes in patients with pure duodenal obstruction caused by pancreaticobiliary cancer. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical effectiveness and side effects of uncovered and covered SEMS for the palliation of duodenal obstruction caused by pancreaticobiliary cancer.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed all patients with pancreaticobiliary cancer who underwent upper endoscopy with SEMS placement for malignant duodenal obstruction at the National Cancer Center of Korea between April 2003 and December 2010. The technical and clinical success rates of the procedure, complications, and durations of stent patency and overall survival were evaluated.

RESULTS

We identified 70 patients with a mean age of 51.2 years (range = 39-81 years); of these, 46 (65.7 %) had pancreatic cancer, 9 (12.9 %) had bile duct cancer, 11 (15.7 %) had gallbladder cancer, and 4 (5.7 %) had cancer of the ampulla of Vater. Twenty-four patients (34.3 %) received covered SEMSs and 46 (65.7 %) received uncovered SEMSs. Technical and clinical success rates were similar for the covered and uncovered stent groups. The complication rate was higher in the covered than in the uncovered group (62.5 vs. 34.8 %, P = 0.025), due primarily to a significantly higher stent migration rate (20.8 vs. 0 %, P = 0.004). Perforation as a late complication occurred in four patients, two in each group (8.3 vs. 4.3 %, P = 0.425). Stent patency tended to be shorter for covered than for uncovered duodenal stents (13.7 ± 8.6 weeks vs. not reached, P = 0.069).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of uncovered stents may be a preferred option for duodenal obstruction secondary to pancreaticobiliary malignancies, since they were effective in preventing stent migration and tended to have longer patency than covered stents. Careful attention should be paid to signs and symptoms of perforation during follow-up.

Hepatocellular carcinoma complicated by gastroduodenal obstruction: palliative treatment with metallic stent placement

PURPOSE

To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of self-expandable metallic stents in seven patients with malignant gastroduodenal obstruction caused by inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

Seven patients with gastroduodenal obstruction caused by advanced HCC underwent metallic stent placement from 2003 to 2010. These patients had total dysphagia (n = 5) or were able to eat only liquids (n = 2) before stent placement. Patients had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance scores of 2 or 3, and Child-Pugh classification B or C.

RESULTS

Stent placement was technically successful in all seven patients (100%) and clinically successful in six (86%). Five patients could eat a soft diet, and one patient tolerated regular diet after stent placement. Stent-related obstructive jaundice occurred in one patient. One patient had hematemesis 11 days after stent placement. Overall mean survival was 51 days (range, 10-119 days). Stent patency was preserved in six patients with clinical success until death.

CONCLUSION

Placement of a covered self-expandable metallic stent may offer good palliation in patients with gastroduodenal obstruction due to advanced HCC.