SELF-EXPANDABLE METAL STENTS FOR MALIGNANT GASTRIC OUTLET OBSTRUCTION- A MODIFIED TECHNIQUE

Background and Study Aims: Endoscopic palliative treatment may be effe ctive in the management of malignant gastric outlet obstruction, Howev er, experience in this area is limited, and the techniques vary widely , In this retrospective study, a uniform technique using nearly identi cal self-expandable metal stents was employed to assess technical feas ibility, safety, and outcome, Patients and Methods: Eight patients pre senting with clinical findings of gastric outlet obstruction confirmed by upper gastrointestinal radiography underwent endoscopic placement of expandable metal stents, in patients had primary or metastatic mali gnancy involving the pylorus or duodenum, Endoscopic and Gastrografin- enhanced upper gastrointestinal radiographic evaluations were carried out immediately after stent placement. Complications and clinical outc omes were assessed in each patient. Results: Five patients had extrins ic compression of the descending duodenum due to pancreatic cancer, tw o had pyloric stenosis from metastatic cancer, and one patient had pri mary duodenal cancer, Stent placement was successful in all patients, and was followed by clinical improvement. There was one death within 3 0 days, related to pneumonia, Conclusion: Endoscopic self-expandable s tent placement appears to be a reasonable therapeutic alternative in p atients with malignant gastric outlet obstruction.