METALLIC STENTS UNDER FLUOROSCOPIC GUIDANCE FOR THE TREATMENT OF MALIGNANT GASTRODUODENAL STENOSES

Purpose. - To evaluate the efficacy of metallic stents for palliation of malignant gastro-duodenal stenosis. Materials and methods. - Twenty -three patients aged from 36 to 88 years old presented with nausea, vo miting and weight loss due to duodenal (n=16) or antro-pyloric (n=7) m alignant stenosis and underwent placement of 37 Wallstents (1 to 3 per patient) under fluoroscopic guidance. Results. - After initial stent placement 17 patients had normal food intake. One patient was able to eat fractionated meals. Five patients did not experience any improveme nt due to the presence of a jejunal stenosis downstream ill 2, or insu fficient stenosis coverage in 2 and stent migration ill 1. Nine of the 18 patients with improvement died without symptoms within 101 +/- 56 days after stent placement and 6 were alive and symptom-free after a m ean follow up of 176 +/- 83 days. Three asymptomatic patients were los t to follow up after 3 days, I and 2 months, respectively Conclusions. - Metallic stents appear to be a valuable option for the treatment of malignant gastro-duodenal stenoses.