The factors influencing long-term outcomes of stenting for malignant colorectal obstruction in elderly group in community medicine

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.

Palliative Emergency General Surgery

Acute care surgeons encounter patients experiencing surgical emergencies related to advanced malignancy, catastrophic vascular events, or associated with multisystem organ failure. The acute nature is a factor in establishing a relationship between surgeon, patient, and family. Surgeons must use effective communication skills, empathy, and a knowledge of legal and ethical foundations. Training in palliative care principles is limited in many medical school and residency curricula. We offer examples of clinical situations facing acute care surgeons and discuss evidence-based recommendations to facilitate successful treatment and outcomes.

Utility and safety of the self-expandable metallic colonic stent in Japanese patients who received systemic chemotherapy or palliative treatment for obstructive primary advanced colorectal cancer: A retrospective single-center medical chart evaluation

Background and Aim

The present study aimed to compare the utility and safety of the colonic self-expandable metallic stent between patients with obstructive primary colorectal cancer who underwent chemotherapy or palliative treatment care and patients bridging for surgery.

Methods

The cases of 71 patients with colonic obstructive stenosis and in-dwelling stents who were hospitalized between May 2012 and April 2020 at Karatsu Red Cross Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were classified into three groups: bridging for curative surgery (group I), receiving systemic chemotherapy (group II-A), and receiving only palliative treatment (group II-B). Technical and clinical success rates and complication rates after stenting were evaluated.

Results

No significant differences were observed in the technical (procedure) success rates (group I: 100%; group II, 97.6% [II-A: 100%; II-B: 95.8%]). The total clinical success rate was 85.9% (61/71) and did not vary significantly among the groups (group I: 82.8%; group II 88.0% [II-A: 83.3%; II-B: 91.6%]). No significant differences were observed in the early complication rates between groups I and II and in the late complication rates between groups II-A and II-B. Nutrition status, general condition, tumor staging, and 1-year survival were poorer in group II than in group I.

Conclusion

The findings show that colonic stenting for malignant obstruction was performed successfully and safely both in patients who received systemic chemotherapy or palliative therapy and in patients bridging for curative surgery, regardless of risk status for malnutrition, poor general condition, cancer stage progression, and short survival.

Stenting as a Bridge to Surgery or a Palliative Treatment

Endoscopic stenting of the colorectum has emerged as a viable alternative to surgical interventions in a selected group of patients. The main indication for stenting is bowel obstruction. As such stenting can be used to palliate patients with metastatic disease or bridge patients to surgical intervention. The main advantages of stenting in the emergency setting include lower morbidity and mortality, lower incidence of stoma formation, shorter hospitalization, and better quality of life. For patients with unresectable disease and short life expectancy, stenting can be considered. However, for patients with longer life expectancy, the potential long-term complications of a metal stent such as erosion, migration, or obstruction have engendered debate whether such patients are better served by operative intervention. Stenting as a bridge to surgery is an alternative to surgery in patients who are high risk for emergency surgery but concerns remain regarding its impact on oncologic outcome in potentially curable patients.

Long-term tumour outcomes of self-expanding metal stents as 'bridge to surgery' for the treatment of colorectal cancer with malignant obstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To explore the long-term oncological results of self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) as a surgical transition compared with those of simple emergency surgery.

METHODS

A systematic review of studies involving long-term tumour outcomes comparing SEMS with emergency surgery was conducted. All studies included information on 3-year and 5-year survival rates, 3-year and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates, and local and overall recurrence rates; the results were expressed as odds ratios.

RESULTS

Overall, 24 articles and 2508 patients were included, including 5 randomised controlled trials, 3 prospective studies, and 16 retrospective studies. The 3-year survival rate (odds ratio (OR) = 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.69-1.12, P = 0.05), 5-year survival rate (OR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.70-1.17, P = 0.67), 3-year DFS rate (OR = 1.14, 95% CI 0.91-1.42, P = 0.65), 5-year DFS rate (OR = 1.35, 95% CI 0.91-2.02, P = 0.17), overall recurrence rate (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.77-1.41, P = 0.14), and local recurrence rate (OR 1.37, 95% CI 0.84-2.23, P = 0.92) were determined. There was no significant difference between the randomised and observational studies in the subgroup analysis, and the 5-year survival rate was higher in studies with a stent placement success rate of ≥ 95%.

CONCLUSION

SEMS implantation was a viable alternative in malignant left colon obstruction as a transition to surgery; its long-term survival results, including 5-year DFS and overall survival, were equivalent to those of emergent surgery.

Bridge-to-surgery versus emergency surgery in the management of left-sided acute malignant colorectal obstruction - Efficacy, safety and long-term outcomes

OBJECTIVE

Compare efficacy, safety and long-term outcomes of bridge-to-surgery and emergency surgery in acute malignant colorectal obstruction.

METHODS

Retrospective study of 94 consecutive patients with left-sided acute malignant colorectal obstruction treated with curative intent between 2010-2017.

RESULTS

48 patients underwent stent placement and 46 underwent emergency surgery. Technical and clinical success were 100% and 87%. Laparoscopy and one-staged operation were more frequent in bridge-to-surgery (44% vs 2%, p < 0.001; 73% vs 30%, p < 0.001). Fewer permanent stomas were created in bridge-to-surgery (15% vs 35%, p = 0.013). Overall morbidity was 36%. Immediate and post-procedure stent related-complications occurred in 6% and 13%; surgery-related complications occurred in 28% (bridge-to-surgery: 15% vs emergency surgery: 41%, p = 0.004). No differences were found regarding tumor recurrence, recurrence-free survival and overall survival. R1 resection (HR 47.2, _95%CI:4.1-543.7), number of lymph nodes harvested (HR 0.9 _95%CI:0.8-0.99) and adjuvant therapy (HR 0.1 _95%CI:0.01-0.9) predicted recurrence-free survival; pTMN stage IV (HR 7.3, _95%CI:1.1-47.6), number of lymph nodes harvested (HR 0.90, _95%CI:0.8-0.97), adjuvant therapy (HR 0.1, _95%CI:0.02-0.4) and surgery-related complications (HR 5.3, _95%CI:1.02-27.3) influenced overall survival.

CONCLUSION

Stent placement has a high success, similarly to emergency surgery, being associated with higher primary anastomosis and lower stoma rates. Tumor recurrence rate, recurrence-free survival and overall survival were comparable between groups; surgery-related complications influenced overall survival.