Abstract

Malignant gastric outlet obstruction causes significant malnutrition and morbidity. The implantation of a metallic stent is an alternative palliative treatment to allow the intake of food in these patients. Thirty-eight consecutive patients with malignant gastric outlet obstruction who had received an uncovered metallic stent placement in our department from April 2010 to April 2012 were enrolled for analysis. The mean follow-up time was 6.3 months. Food intake, measured by the Gastric Outlet Obstruction Scoring System, complications, duration of stent patency, and survival were evaluated. The technical and clinical success rates of the procedure were 100% and 94.7%, respectively. The Gastric Outlet Obstruction Scoring System scores were significantly improved at 1 day, 7 days, and 30 days after the implantation compared with those prior to the procedure (p < 0.001). Aspiration pneumonia developed in two patients (5.2%) after the procedure. One of these patients developed respiratory failure and died 3 days later. Stent dysfunction developed in 11 of 38 patients (28.9%) during the follow-up period, one patient (2.6%) experienced migration of the stent 38 days later due to resolution of the stricture, 10 patients (26.3%) had stent restenosis. The median time of stent patency was 120 days. The presence of peritoneal carcinomatosis when the procedure was carried out was a significantly poor predictive factor of stent patency [hazard ratio (HR) 7.9, p = 0.039]. The median survival of the patients was 156 days. Poor performance status ≥3, HR 2.647, p = 0.012) and nongastric cancer origin (HR 3.466, p = 0.008) were associated with a significantly short survival time. Metallic stent placement is an effective and relatively safe treatment for patients with malignant gastric outlet obstruction.