Palliation of anastomotic obstructions in recurrent gastric carcinoma with the use of covered metallic stents: clinical results in 25 patients

Endoscopic stent placement with laparoscopic stent fixation in a patient with obstruction at a gastrojejunostomy anastomosis site

BACKGROUND

Palliative endoscopic stent placement may be considered in patients with malignant gastrointestinal obstruction. Stent migration is a potential complication, particularly for those placed at a surgical anastomosis or across a stricture caused by extra-alimentary tract factors. We report a patient with left renal pelvis cancer and gastrojejunostomy obstruction who underwent endoscopic stent placement and laparoscopic stent fixation.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 60-year-old male with peritoneal dissemination of a left renal pelvis cancer was admitted for treatment of upper gastrointestinal obstruction. A laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy had been previously performed for cancer invasion of the duodenum. Imaging showed gastroduodenal dilation and impaired passage of contrast medium through the efferent loop of the gastrojejunostomy. Gastrojejunostomy anastomosis site obstruction due to dissemination of left renal pelvis cancer was diagnosed. Conservative treatment failed and endoscopic stent placement with laparoscopic stent fixation was performed. After surgery, the patient was able to tolerate oral intake and he was discharged without complications. The patient gained weight and was able to resume chemotherapy, indicating the procedure was effective.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic stent placement with laparoscopic stent fixation for malignant upper gastrointestinal obstruction appears effective in patients with a high risk of stent migration.

Efficacy of Gastric Balloon Dilatation and/or Retrievable Stent Insertion for Pyloric Spasms after Pylorus-Preserving Gastrectomy: Retrospective Analysis

Purpose

We retrospectively investigated the feasibility and clinical efficacy of balloon dilatation and subsequent retrievable stent insertion, when necessitated, for pyloric spasms after pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG).

Materials and Methods

Forty-five patients experiencing pyloric spasms after PPG underwent fluoroscopic balloon dilations to alleviate obstructive symptoms due to delayed gastric emptying. Patients showing poor response to balloon dilation underwent subsequent retrievable stent insertion. Safety of the procedures was analyzed, and subjective symptoms and objective signs of pyloric spasms were analyzed and compared before and after treatment.

Results

Thirty-three patients (73.3%, 33/45) showed good response to balloon dilatation requiring no further treatment (balloon group). Conversely, 12 patients (26.7%, 12/45) showed poor or no response after balloon dilation requiring subsequent stent insertion (stent group). Balloon dilations and/or stent insertions were safely performed in all patients except one patient who suffered a transmural tear after balloon dilatation. In both groups, mean subjective symptom score was significantly improved and mean pyloric canal-to-height of the adjacent vertebral body ratio was significantly increased after the procedures (P <.05).

Conclusion

Balloon dilation is a safe and effective treatment for patients with pyloric spasms after PPG. In patients refractory to balloon dilations, retrievable stent placement can be a safe alternative tool.

Influence of a positive proximal margin on oral intake in patients with palliative gastrectomy for far advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Resection margin involvement is one of the most significant risk factors for local recurrence in curative gastrectomy, and local recurrence results in anastomotic stenosis. In the present study, the effects of a positive resection margin in palliative gastrectomy on the symptoms of anastomotic stenosis and the amount of oral intake were analyzed.

METHODS

Between September 2002 and December 2009, 2,228 patients underwent resection for gastric cancer at Shizuoka Cancer Center, Japan, of whom 18 underwent palliative gastrectomy with a positive proximal margin because of urgent symptoms such as tumor bleeding, stenosis, or perforation. These 18 patients were analyzed retrospectively in this study.

RESULTS

Twelve patients had a positive proximal margin, and six patients had both proximal and distal margin involvement. Anastomotic leakage occurred in 2 patients. The median overall survival was 7.5 months, and the median time from operation to a decrease in oral intake was 5.5 months. Anastomotic recurrence developed in 3 patients, and in all of them, anastomotic stricture was found 2-3 months after gastrectomy. One of these patients, who was in good general condition, was treated by endoscopic balloon dilatation. The other 2 patients did not undergo balloon dilatation because their general condition was poor, with peritonitis carcinomatosa.

CONCLUSIONS

It does not appear necessary for palliative gastrectomy to achieve a negative proximal margin, because salvage therapies resulted in maintaining a tolerable oral intake in patients who were in good general condition.

Tumor overgrowth after expandable metallic stent placement: experience in 583 patients with malignant gastroduodenal obstruction

OBJECTIVE

The objective of our study was to assess the incidence, predictive factors, and treatment of tumor overgrowth after placement of expandable metallic dual stents in patients with malignant gastroduodenal obstruction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Expandable metallic dual stents were inserted under fluoroscopic guidance in 583 patients with symptomatic malignant gastroduodenal obstruction. We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected patient records to determine the incidence and treatment of tumor overgrowth after stent placement and used multivariate analysis to determine factors predicting tumor overgrowth.

RESULTS

Tumor overgrowth occurred after stent placement in 22 of 583 patients (3.8%) (range, 41-634 days; mean, 179.0 days). Duodenal lesions (odds ratio [OR], 4.505; p = 0.002), longer survival time (OR, 1.003; p = 0.001), and length of obstruction (OR, 0.783; p = 0.035) were independent predictors of tumor overgrowth. Twenty of the 22 patients were successfully treated by placement of a second dual stent, whereas the other two patients refused placement of a second stent or other further treatment. Overall, 19 of 20 patients (95%) showed improvement in symptoms after second stent placement. Duodenal perforation occurred in one of the 20 patients 125 days after placement of a second stent and was treated surgically.

CONCLUSION

Tumor overgrowth seems to be an uncommon complication of expandable metallic dual stent placement in patients with malignant gastroduodenal obstruction. Tumor overgrowth is associated with duodenal lesions, longer survival time, and shorter stricture length. Tumor overgrowth can be successfully managed by coaxial insertion of a second dual-expandable metallic stent into the obstructed first stent.

A double-layered (comvi) self-expandable metal stent for malignant gastroduodenal obstruction: a prospective multicenter study

BACKGROUND

A self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) has emerged as an effective palliative treatment for malignant gastroduodenal obstruction resulting from gastric or periampullary malignancy. Despite the stent's effectiveness, tumor ingrowth and stent migration remain complications requiring reintervention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a double-layered SEMS (Comvi).

METHODS

We performed a prospective multicenter study in two university hospitals and two referral hospitals. In fifty consecutive patients with malignant gastroduodenal obstructions, placement of double-layered SEMS, comprising an outer uncovered stent and an inner covered stent that overlap each other, was performed. Palliation, efficacy, and incidence of complications were evaluated.

RESULTS

Technical and clinical success was achieved in 100 and 88% of patients, respectively. There were no procedure-related complications. Five patients experienced stent migration (10%). For four of five patients' stent migration occurred within two weeks of stent placement. Stent collapse occurred in five patients after one month. Reintervention for stent migration, collapse, or tumor overgrowth was required for 14 (28%) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic placement of a double-layered stent is a safe and effective modality for the palliation of malignant gastroduodenal obstruction. However, considering reintervention, this stent does not seem to add any clear advantage compared with preexisting uncovered stents. Migration, especially within the first two weeks, and stent collapse are still unresolved problems. The device should be fixed or the design modified to reduce these problems.

A double-layered (comvi) self-expandable metal stent for malignant gastroduodenal obstruction: a prospective multicenter study

BACKGROUND

A self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) has emerged as an effective palliative treatment for malignant gastroduodenal obstruction resulting from gastric or periampullary malignancy. Despite the stent's effectiveness, tumor ingrowth and stent migration remain complications requiring reintervention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a double-layered SEMS (Comvi).

METHODS

We performed a prospective multicenter study in two university hospitals and two referral hospitals. In fifty consecutive patients with malignant gastroduodenal obstructions, placement of double-layered SEMS, comprising an outer uncovered stent and an inner covered stent that overlap each other, was performed. Palliation, efficacy, and incidence of complications were evaluated.

RESULTS

Technical and clinical success was achieved in 100 and 88% of patients, respectively. There were no procedure-related complications. Five patients experienced stent migration (10%). For four of five patients' stent migration occurred within two weeks of stent placement. Stent collapse occurred in five patients after one month. Reintervention for stent migration, collapse, or tumor overgrowth was required for 14 (28%) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic placement of a double-layered stent is a safe and effective modality for the palliation of malignant gastroduodenal obstruction. However, considering reintervention, this stent does not seem to add any clear advantage compared with preexisting uncovered stents. Migration, especially within the first two weeks, and stent collapse are still unresolved problems. The device should be fixed or the design modified to reduce these problems.

Self-expandable metallic stent placement for malignant obstruction in patients with locally recurrent gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Self-expandable metallic stents (SEMSs) provide effective palliation for inoperable malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of SEMSs in patients with recurrent gastric cancer after radical gastrectomy.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed data from patients with gastric cancer who underwent endoscopic SEMS placement. The patients had obstructive symptoms due to recurrent gastric cancer after curative-intent subtotal or total gastrectomies. Technical and clinical success rates of stent placement were evaluated and clinical outcomes were compared according to operation types.

RESULTS

A total of 15 patients underwent total gastrectomies with esophagojejunostomies and Roux-en-Y reconstructions, 8 underwent subtotal gastrectomies with Billroth I reconstructions, and 12 underwent subtotal gastrectomies with Billroth II reconstructions. Four patients in the Billroth II group received stents in afferent and efferent loops, so a total of 39 stents were placed. Technical success was achieved with 92% (36/39) of stents, and clinical success occurred with 90% (35/39) of stents, with no significant differences among surgery groups or between stent types (covered vs. uncovered). The GOO score (preprocedure: 0.45±0.62) increased by 1 week (2.06±0.51, p<0.001) and was maintained up to 1 month (1.71±1.15, p<0.001 compared with initial score). Complications occurred with 17 of 39 stents (44%) and included 2 perforations, 3 migrations, and 12 restenoses. Median stent patency duration was 10.7 weeks and median survival was 21.3 weeks; these did not significantly differ by surgery group (p=0.25 and 0.93, respectively) or stent type (covered vs. uncovered, p=0.51 and 0.96, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic SEMS placement for obstruction due to recurrent cancer after total or subtotal gastrectomy is feasible and provides effective short-term palliation, independent of the type of surgical procedure or stent (covered vs. uncovered) used.

Stenting of the upper gastrointestinal tract: current status

Minimally invasive image-guided insertion of self-expanding metal stents in the upper gastrointestinal tract is the current treatment of choice for palliation of malignant esophageal or gastroduodenal outlet obstructions. A concise review is presented of contemporary stenting practice of the upper gastrointestinal tract, and the procedures in terms of appropriate patient evaluation, indications, and contraindications for treatment are analyzed, along with available stent designs, procedural steps, clinical outcomes, inadvertent complications, and future technology. Latest developments include biodegradable polymeric stents for benign disease and radioactive or drug-eluting stents for malignant obstructions.

Palliative treatment of malignant gastroduodenal obstruction with metallic stent: prospective comparison of covered and uncovered stents

BACKGROUND

The placement of self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) is known to be effective palliative treatment of malignant gastroduodenal obstruction. There are two types of SEMS--covered and uncovered--each with its own advantages and disadvantages. This study was conducted to compare between the clinical outcomes of covered and uncovered stents in patients with malignant gastroduodenal obstruction.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study was conducted prospectively from January 1998 to June 2007 and 154 patients were included. All had symptomatic gastroduodenal obstruction and were not candidates for curative operation. Seventy patients received covered SEMS, while the other 84 received uncovered SEMS. We compared technical and clinical success rates, tumour ingrowth rate, stent migration rate, stent patency time and patient survival in both SEMS groups.

RESULTS

The technical and clinical success rates of the covered and uncovered stent groups did not differ. Stent migration was more frequent in the covered stent group than in the uncovered group (17.1% versus 0%; p=0.0001). Tumour ingrowth was more frequent in the uncovered stent group than in the covered group (16.6% versus 2.9%; p=0.0066). Stent re-intervention rate, stent patency time and patient survival did not differ between groups.

CONCLUSION

Covered and uncovered stent insertions are technically feasible and effective palliative treatment of malignant gastroduodenal obstruction. Covered stents can reduce the risk of tumour ingrowth, whereas uncovered stents are effective in preventing stent migration. However, covered stents did not differ from uncovered stents in regard to other clinical outcomes.

Clinical outcomes of self-expandable metal stents in palliation of malignant anastomotic strictures caused by recurrent gastric cancer

AIM: To examine the technical feasibility and clinical outcomes of the endoscopic insertion of a self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) for the palliation of a malignant anastomotic stricture caused by recurrent gastric cancer.

METHODS: The medical records of patients, who had obstructive symptoms caused by a malignant anastomotic stricture after gastric surgery and underwent endoscopic insertion of a SEMS from January 2001 to December 2007 at Kangnam St Mary’s Hospital, were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTS: Twenty patients (15 male, mean age 63 years) were included. The operations were a total gastrectomy with esophagojejunostomy (n = 12), subtotal gastrectomy with Billroth-I reconstruction (n = 2) and subtotal gastrectomy with Billroth-II reconstruction (n = 8). The technical and clinical success rates were 100% and 70%, respectively. A small bowel or colon stricture was the reason for a lack of improvement in symptoms in 4 patients. Two of these patients showed improvement in symptoms after another stent was placed. Stent reobstruction caused by tumor ingrowth or overgrowth occurred in 3 patients (15%) within 1 mo after stenting. Stent migration occurred with a covered stent in 3 patients who underwent a subtotal gastrectomy with Billroth-II reconstruction. Two cases of partial stent migration were easily treated with a second stent or stent repositioning. The median stent patency was 56 d (range, 5-439 d). The median survival was 83 d (range, 12-439 d).

CONCLUSION: Endoscopic insertion of a SEMS provides safe and effective palliation of a recurrent anastomotic stricture caused by gastric cancer. A meticulous evaluation of the presence of other strictures before inserting the stent is essential for symptom improvement.

Treatment of malignant gastric outlet obstruction with stents: an evaluation of the reported variables for clinical outcome

Background

Malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is commonly seen in patients with advanced gastric-, pancreatic-, duodenal, hepatobiliary or metastatic malignancies. Ten to 25% of patients with pancreatic cancer will develop duodenal obstruction during the course of the disease. Duodenal stenting with self-expandable metal stents is an alternative treatment to surgical bypass procedures. Our aim was to review the published literature regarding treatment of malignant GOO with stents to reveal whether the information provided is sufficient to evaluate the clinical effects of this treatment

Methods

A literature search from 2000 – 2007 was conducted in Pub Med, Embase, and Cochrane library, combining the following search terms: duodenal stent, malignant duodenal obstruction, gastric outlet obstruction, SEMS, and gastroenteroanastomosis.

All publications presenting data with ≥ 15 patients and only articles written in English were included and a review focusing on the following parameters were conducted: 1) The use of graded scoring systems evaluating clinical success; 2) Assessment of Quality of life (QoL) before and after treatment; 3) Information on stent-patency; 4) The use of objective criteria to evaluate the stent effect.

Results

41 original papers in English were found; no RCT's. 16 out of 41 studies used some sort of graded scoring system. No studies had objectively evaluated QoL before or after stent treatment, using standardized QoL-questionnaires, 32/41 studies reported on stent patency and 9/41 performed an oral contrast examination after stent placement. Objective quantitative tests of gastric emptying had not been performed.

Conclusion

Available reports do not provide sufficient relevant information of the clinical outcome of duodenal stenting. In future studies, these relevant issues should be addressed to allow improved evaluation of the effect of stent treatment.

Treatment of anastomotic malignant obstructions after gastric cancer surgery with self-expanding metallic stents: an analysis of 15 cases

AIM: To assess the feasibility, effectiveness and complications of the placement of expandable metallic stents in patients with anastomotic obstruction following gastric cancer surgery.

METHODS: Under the guide of X-ray and gastroscopy, 15 cases with anastomotic obstruction due to gastric cancer surgery were placed with metallic stents. An evaluation of placement skills, clinical success rate and complications was conducted as well as survival duration and stent patent rate were calculated in Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS: Stent placement was technically successful in 13 out of 15 patients (86.7%). After stent placement, 12 patients (92.3%) experienced remarkable improvement of symptoms. In the follow-up (2-66 wk), abdominal pain occurred in 3 cases (23%), stent removal in 2 cases (15.4%), stent obstruction due to tumor overgrowth in 1 case (8%) and gastrointestinal bleeding in 2 cases (15.4%). The median survival duration and stent patent period were 87.0 and 140.0 d respectively.

CONCLUSION: Placement of metallic stents in patients with anastomotic stenosis due to gastric cancer surgery is technically feasible, safe, and clinically effective. It is also beneficial to improve patients' quality of life, although complications may occur in some cases.

Comparison of a new polytetrafluoroethylene-covered metallic stent to a noncovered stent in canine ureters

The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of using a newly designed polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-covered metallic stent in the ureter by comparing its effectiveness with that of the noncovered stent in a canine model. We placed 14 stents in the ureters of seven mongrel dogs that weighed 30-40 kg each. The covered and noncovered stents were deployed in the right and left ureters, respectively, of six dogs. In the seventh dog, a covered stent and a double-J catheter were inserted in the right ureter, and a covered stent only was inserted in the left ureter. The first six dogs were sacrificed at 5, 10, and 15 weeks after deployment of the stents (two for each follow-up period), and the seventh dog was sacrificed at 30 weeks. There was no migration or poor expansion of any of the stents observed on plain radiography. On intravenous pyelogram and retrograde pyelogram, all of the covered stents at each follow-up period had patent lumens at the stented segments without hydronephrosis, and the passage of contrast material through it was well preserved. The noncovered stents in the dogs sacrificed at 5 and 10 weeks and one of the two dogs sacrificed at 15 weeks showed near-complete occlusion of the stent lumen due to ingrowth of the soft tissue, and severe hydronephrosis was also noted. The noncovered stent in the other dog sacrificed at 15 weeks showed the passage of contrast material without hydronephrosis, but the lumen of the stent was still nearly occluded by the soft tissue. There was no evidence of hydronephrosis or passage disturbance of the contrast material in both ureters of the dog sacrificed at 30 weeks. We conclude that the newly designed PTFE-covered stent effectively prevented the luminal occlusion caused by urothelial hyperplasia compared to the near-total occlusion of the noncovered stents, and no migration of the covered stents was noted.

Metallic stent placement in patients with recurrent cancer after gastrojejunostomy

PURPOSE

To assess the technical feasibility and clinical effectiveness of placement of expandable metallic stents in patients with recurrent cancer after a gastrojejunostomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from 39 consecutive patients who had undergone metallic stent placement for recurrent malignant obstruction after a gastrojejunostomy were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty patients underwent a distal gastrectomy with a gastrojejunostomy with (n=10) or without (n=20) jejunojejunostomy, two patients underwent distal gastrectomy with a Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy, and seven patients underwent a palliative gastrojejunostomy with (n=5) or without (n=2) jejunojejunostomy. A total of 57 metallic stents were used in this study: four bare stents, 29 partially covered stents, and 24 fully covered stents. Types of obstruction were classified into 12 patterns and types of stent placement were classified into 16 patterns.

RESULTS

Stent placement was technically successful in all patients. After stent placement, 35 of the 39 patients (90%) experienced improvement of their symptoms, two showed no change, and the remaining two showed aggravation of symptoms as a result of faulty stent placement. Two patients treated with stent placement only in the afferent loop died of aspiration pneumonia. In one of two patients who underwent stent placement according to pattern 6, afferent loop syndrome occurred 10 days after stent placement and was treated by percutaneous pigtail catheter drainage. Stent migration occurred in four of 24 fully covered stents, but in none of the bare or partially covered stents. Tumor ingrowth occurred in one of four bare stents, tumor overgrowth in one of 29 partially covered stents, and mucosal prolapse in one of 24 fully covered stents; all were treated with a second stent placement.

CONCLUSIONS

Placement of expandable metallic stents in patients with recurrent cancer after a gastrojejunostomy seems to be feasible and effective, but accurate knowledge of the type of surgical procedure performed and determination of the pattern of tumor recurrence are important for successful stent placement.

Self-expanding metallic stents for gastric outlet obstruction resulting from stomach cancer: a preliminary study with a newly designed double-layered pyloric stent

BACKGROUND

Although endoscopic stent placement is now generally accepted as a palliative treatment for gastric outlet obstruction resulting from gastric cancer, it carries potential limitations such as tumor ingrowth or migration.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to evaluate the technical and clinical efficacy of endoscopic placement of a newly designed double-layered combination pyloric stent.

DESIGN

Prospective, uncontrolled, single-center.

SETTING

Tertiary referral university hospital.

PATIENTS

Eleven patients with gastric outlet obstruction by unresectable stomach cancer.

INTERVENTIONS

Eleven patients received a double-layered combination pyloric stent (an outer uncovered stent to reduce migration and an inner polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent to prevent tumor ingrowth).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT

To evaluate technical success, clinical success, and complications, especially tumor ingrowth and migration.

RESULTS

Technical success was achieved in 11 of 11 (100%) patients. Among 11 patients in whom endoscopic stenting was placed successfully, clinical success was 90.9%, tumor ingrowth 0%, migration 9.1%, and tumor overgrowth 9.1%. Median stent patency period was 121 days.

LIMITATIONS

Small number of patients, uncontrolled study, short-term follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

We have described a technique for endoscopic metal stent placement by using the newly designed double-layered combination stent for gastric outlet obstruction by stomach cancer. This stent seems to be effective and looks promising for technical efficacy, clinical outcome, and preventing tumor ingrowth and migration.

Palliative nonvascular interventions

Interventional radiologists are often called on to help with quality of life issues in end-stage cancer patients. Many times, the discomfort can be directly associated to the tumor mass itself, but in other instances, tumors can cause secondary obstruction of normal structures that can lead to patient distress. As with most palliative care patients, their medical conditions are not conducive to major surgery; therefore minimally invasive techniques are ideal for the treatment of these conditions. The following discussion addresses the various nonvascular interventions available to these patients, including the indications and limitations of these procedures.

Palliative management of gastric cancer

Advanced gastric cancer and its palliative treatment have a long and interesting history. Today, gastric adenocarcinoma is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Unfortunately, many cases are not diagnosed until late stages of disease, which underscores the importance of the palliative treatment of gastric cancer. Palliative care is best defined as the active total care of patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment. Although endoscopy is the most useful method for securing the diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma, computed tomography may be useful to assess local and distant disease. The main indication for the institution of palliative care is the presence of advanced gastric cancer for which curative treatment is deemed inappropriate. The primary goal of palliative therapy of gastric cancer patients is to improve quality, not necessarily length, of life. Four main modalities of palliative therapy for advanced gastric cancer are discussed: resection, bypass, stenting, and chemotherapy. The choice of modality depends on a variety of factors, including individual patient prognosis and goals, and should be made on case-by-case basis. Future directions include the discovery and development of serum or stool tumor markers aimed at prevention, improving prognostication and stratification, and increasing awareness and education.

Anastomotic Recurrence of Gastric Cancer after Total Gastrectomy with Esophagojejunostomy: Palliation with Covered Expandable Metallic Stents

PURPOSE

To assess the technical feasibility, safety, and clinical effectiveness of the placement of expandable metallic stents in patients with anastomotic recurrence of gastric cancer after total gastrectomy with esophagojejunostomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The authors retrospectively analyzed data from 32 patients in whom metallic stents were placed for recurrent obstruction after total gastrectomy with esophagojejunostomy. Technical and clinical success and complications with related interventions were evaluated. Overall survival and stent patency rates were calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Stent placement was technically successful in 30 of the 32 patients (94%). After stent placement, 29 patients (91%) experienced improvement of their symptoms. Fourteen complications occurred after stent placement, and these consisted of pain (n = 5, 16%), stent migration (n = 3, 9%), stent obstruction due to tumor overgrowth (n = 4, 13%), and abutment of the tortuous jejunal wall by the end of the stent (n = 2, 6%). In one of five patients with pain, the stent was removed 4 hours after placement because the pain could not be controlled with analgesics. The median survival and stent patency period were 87.0 and 140.0 days, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Placement of covered metallic stents in patients with anastomotic recurrence of gastric cancer after total gastrectomy with esophagojejunostomy is technically feasible, safe, and clinically effective.

Endoscopic stenting in patients with recurrent malignant obstruction after gastric surgery: uncovered versus simultaneously deployed uncovered and covered (double) self-expandable metal stents

BACKGROUND

Uncovered, rather than covered, metal stents are commonly used for palliation of malignant gastric outlet obstruction because of the low risk of stent migration, but tumor ingrowth risk is a major drawback. Few reports address malignant obstruction after gastric surgery.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to compare the technical feasibility and clinical outcome of using an endoscopic uncovered self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) and simultaneous use of uncovered and covered SEMS (double SEMS) in patients with recurrent malignant obstruction after gastric surgery.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Tertiary care, academic medical center, from August 2000 to June 2005.

PATIENTS

Twenty patients were included in the study. All patients had symptomatic obstruction with nausea, vomiting, and decreased oral intake.

INTERVENTION

Ten patients received uncovered SEMS; the other 10 received double SEMS.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

To compare tumor ingrowth and stent patency between the uncovered and the double-SEMS groups.

RESULTS

Technical and clinical successes were 10 of 10 and 8 of 10, respectively, in the uncovered SEMS group and 10 of 10 and 10 of 10, respectively, in the double SEMS group. Six of 10 patients (60%) with uncovered SEMS had tumor ingrowth compared with 1 of 10 patients with double SEMS, P = .057. Five of 10 patients (50%) with uncovered SEMS had very early restenosis, but no patients had early restenosis in the double SEMS group, P = .033. Stent patency was a median of 21.5 days (range, 7-217 days) in the uncovered SEMS group and 150 days (range 29-263 days) in the double SEMS group, P = .037. Survival duration was 109.5 days (range 29-280 days) and 150 days (range 29-263 days), respectively.

LIMITATIONS

This was a small retrospective study.

CONCLUSION

Simultaneous double stent placement seems to be technically feasible and effective for palliative treatment of recurrent malignant obstruction after gastric surgery. Double stent placement is important in preventing tumor ingrowth, especially very early restenosis, and prolongs stent patency. We suggest that this procedure be considered rather than uncovered stent alone as the primary choice for palliation of obstruction in such patients.

Treatment for isolated loco-regional recurrence of gastric adenocarcinoma: does surgery play a role?

AIM

To evaluate the role of surgical treatment for isolated loco-regional recurrences of operated gastric adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

Among the 837 patients operated for gastric adenocarcinoma between December 1979 and April 2004, 713 (85%) underwent resection with curative intent. A retrospective review of a prospectively collected gastric cancer database was carried out. Overall recurrence rate was 44% (315 cases), with 75% occurring within the first 2 years from the operation. Isolated L-R recurrences were observed in 38 (12%) patients. Symptomatic lesions were observed in 27 (71%).

RESULTS

Six (16%) patients were macroscopically resected with curative intent. The recurrence was located in the gastric stump after a STG in three patients, in the esophagojejunal anastomosis after a TG in two patients and in the gastric bed after a TG in one patient. Surgical procedures consisted of three secondary TG, two esophagojejunal resection and one excision of an extraluminal recurrence. Postoperative complications occurred in two patients (33%), including one anastomotic leakage and one hemorrhage. The latter patient died of sepsis 35 d after the surgery (mortality rate 17%). All patients died of recurrent gastric cancer: 2 within 1 year from surgery (8 and 11 mo, respectively), 2 after 16 and 17 mo respectively and 1 after 28 mo from the second operation.

CONCLUSION

Surgery plays a very limited role in the treatment for isolated loco-regional recurrence of gastric adenocarcinoma.

The hydra phenomenon of cancer: why tumors recur locally after microscopically complete resection

After surgical resection with microscopically clear margins, solid malignant tumors recur locally in up to 50%. Although the effect of a local tumor recurrence on the overall survival may be low in common cancers such as carcinoma of the breast or prostate, the affected patients suffer from exacerbated fear and the burden of the secondary treatment. With some tumor entities such as carcinoma of the uterine cervix or carcinoma of the head and neck, a local recurrence indicates incurability in the majority of cases. The pathomechanisms of local tumor spread and relapse formation are still unclear and comparatively little research has been devoted to their elucidation. Through the analysis of clinical and molecular data, we propose the concept of two pathogenetically and prognostically different local relapse types (i) in situ recurrences that arise in the residual organ/organ system not involved in the surgery for the primary tumor and (ii) scar recurrences that develop at the site of previous tumor resection. Whereas field cancerization, the monoclonal or multiclonal displacement of normal epithelium by a genetically altered but microscopically undistinguishable homologue, may explain the origin of in situ recurrences, most scar recurrences are regarded as the result of the interaction of minimal residual microscopically occult cancer with the surgical wound environment inside a developmentally defined tissue or organ compartment. The therapeutic implications derived from these concepts and areas of future research aimed to reduce local relapses are discussed in this perspective.

Gastroduodenal Stent Placement: Current Status

Gastroduodenal obstruction is a preterminal event in patients with advanced malignancies of the stomach, pancreas, and duodenum. It severely limits the quality of life in affected patients due to constant emesis and associated malnutrition. Surgical gastrojejunostomy has been the traditional palliative treatment but is associated with a high complication rate, and delayed gastric emptying is a frequent problem. Gastroduodenal stent placement is a very safe and effective palliation method in patients with unresectable malignant tumors causing gastric outlet obstruction, with adequate palliation obtained in most cases. The procedure can be performed under fluoroscopic guidance or with a combination of fluoroscopic and endoscopic techniques. Advantages of gastroduodenal stent placement over surgical palliation include suitability as an outpatient procedure, more rapid gastric emptying, greater cost effectiveness, fewer complications, and improved quality of life. Covered duodenal stents are currently being evaluated and may play an increasingly important role in preventing recurrent obstruction secondary to tumor ingrowth. Moreover, simultaneous palliation of biliary and duodenal malignant strictures is possible with the use of metallic stents. Gastroduodenal stent placement is a promising new alternative for the palliation of malignant gastroduodenal obstruction.