Objective  To evaluate initial experience with shape memory alloy stent as an alterative to colostomy in patients with intestinal obstruction of rectal cancer.
Methods  Twenty-one patients with acute and chronic rectal obstructions from malignant causes underwent stent placement. After rectal stent was slenderized in ice water, it was inserted into the strictured rectum by hand or sigmoidoscope. Nitinol mesh stent were deployed in hot water.
Results  Eighteen patients who had underwent rectal stent placement achieved clinical decompression within 5 hours. Colostomy underwent in 3 patients due to stent failure. Eighteen patients with stent were followed-up, 14 cases died in 56-720 days and 4 other cases were still alive without intestinal obstruction in 2-15 months. Conclusion  Nitinol mesh stent may be useful in the management of terminal or high-risk surgical patients for palliative purposes shuning colostomy. Palliation of stent combined with chemotherapy and immunotherapy can be performed to improve survival.

Citation： SHANG Peizhong,LIU Jingzhang,LU Yuqi,et al.. Shape Memory Alloy Stent for Intestinal Obstruction Due to Rectal Cancer. CHINESE JOURNAL OF BASES AND CLINICS IN GENERAL SURGERY, 2002, 9(1): 34-35. doi: Copy