Factors associated with 30-day readmission and long-term efficacy of enteral stent placement for malignancy

Malignant Bowel Obstruction: Reappraising the Value of Surgery

Urgent palliative surgery in the setting of advanced malignancy is associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and cost. Malignant bowel obstruction is the most frequent indication for such intervention. Traditional surgical dogma is often invoked to justify associated risks and cost, but little evidence exists to support surgical over nonsurgical approaches. Evolving evidence may provide more meaningful guidance for treatment selection.

Fabrication and evaluation of polymer-based esophageal stents for benign esophagus stricture insertion

In benign esophageal strictures, polymeric lines and membranes were chosen to knit an esophageal stent for relieving esophageal lesions caused by esophageal stenosis and obstruction.

Clinical outcomes of esophageal stents in patients with malignant esophageal obstruction according to palliative additional treatment

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of esophageal self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) insertion for malignant esophageal obstruction (MEO) in patients with or without additional palliative treatment.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the patients with SEMS for MEO. Baseline characteristics, changes in Mellow-Pinkas dysphagia score, and adverse events were collected and compared according to the presence and absence of additional palliative treatment.

RESULTS

Altogether 192 patients underwent 236 SEMS insertion procedures. Esophageal, gastric cardiac and lung cancers were seen in 46.4%, 33.3% and 15.1% of the patients, respectively. Their Mellow-Pinkas score significantly decreased within one week and one month after the SEMS insertion (1.66 ± 0.79 and 1.71  ±  0.87 vs 3.09  ±  0.79, respectively, P =  0.000). Complications occurred in 54 (22.9%) of 236 SEMS insertion; there were 28 (11.9%) stent obstruction, 5 (2.1%) perforation (2.1%), 10 (4.2%) stent migration, 5 (2.1%) tracheoesophageal fistula, but no procedure-related death. Most complications were managed by inserting additional SEMS. The risk of stent obstruction was significantly higher in uncovered stents than in covered SEMS (OR 3.56, 95% CI 1.39-9.12, P = 0.006). Mean duration to the development of complications was 74.8 ± 111.1 days. Overall survival (169.0 ± 127.8 days vs 96.4 ± 90.6 days, P = 0.000) and stent patency (143.3 ± 123.9 days vs 67.6 ± 71.3 days, P = 0.000) were significantly favorable in patients with SEMS and additional palliative treatments compared with those with SEMS alone.

CONCLUSION

SEMS insertion is effective and safe for treating MEO, and additional palliative treatment might lengthen stent patency by prolonging the patient's survival.

Surgical emergencies in oncology

An oncologic emergency is defined as an acute, potentially life threatening condition in a cancer patient that has developed as a result of the malignant disease or its treatment. Many oncologic emergencies are signs of advanced, end-stage malignant disease. Oncologic emergencies can be divided into medical or surgical. The literature was reviewed to construct a summary of potential surgical emergencies in oncology that any surgeon can be confronted with in daily practice, and to offer insight into the current approach for these wide ranged emergencies. Cancer patients can experience symptoms of obstruction of different structures and various causes. Obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract is the most frequent condition seen in surgical practice. Further surgical emergencies include infections due to immune deficiency, perforation of the gastrointestinal tract, bleeding events, and pathological fractures. For the institution of the appropriate treatment for any emergency, it is important to determine the underlying cause, since emergencies can be either benign or malignant of origin. Some emergencies are well managed with conservative or non-invasive treatment, whereas others require emergency surgery. The patient's performance status, cancer stage and prognosis, type and severity of the emergency, and the patient's wishes regarding invasiveness of treatment are essential during the decision making process for optimal management.