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.
ObjectiveTo investigate the value of different minimally invasive surgical techniques, stent placement, laparoscopic surgery, and sustained-releasing 5-fluorouracil, in solving intestinal obstruction due to colorectal cancer. MethodsFrom May 2000 to May 2010, total 68 patients with obstructed colorectal cancers in three centers were treated in two ways in terms of the stage: The first, patients with resectable tumors underwent colorectal stent placement as a ‘bridge to surgery’ guided by enteroscope under X-ray. After clinical decompression and bowel preparation, laparoscopic radical resection was performed. The second, patients with unresectable tumors underwent rectal stent placement just for palliation. Sustained-releasing 5-fluorouracil was implanted into the local cancerous intestinal tract through stent walls. ResultsFifty-one of 52 patients underwent laparoscopic radical resection successfully following stent placement, while one failed and died during follow-up 93 d postoperatively. Forty patients with successful laparoscopic surgery were followed up in 3 to 36 months (with an average of 15 months) without tumor planting in the incision, postoperative local recurrence or anastomotic stricture. Fifteen unresectable patients and one high-risk, intolerable patient underwent rectal stent placement and implantation of sustained-releasing 5fluorouracil. During follow-up 3 to 24 months (with an average of 14 months), 11 died, who survived for (350±222) d (range 101-720 d), and 5 were still alive for 3 to 13 months (with an average of 9 months) without intestinal obstruction. ConclusionsLaparoscopic surgery combined with stent placement is an effective and safe procedure for resectable obstructed colorectal cancer. For unresectal obstructed rectal cancer, rectal stent placement combined with sustained-releasing 5-fluorouracil can prolong survival time avoiding colostomy.