DUODENAL OBSTRUCTION CAUSED BY PANCREATIC HEAD CARCINOMA - PALLIATIONWITH SELF-EXPANDABLE ENDOPROSTHESES

Background: The risks of palliative operative intervention of gastric outlet obstruction for advanced pancreatic head carcinoma has been rep orted to be quite high. The present study reports the results of attem pted endoscopic palliation of duodenal obstruction in these patients. Methods: Ten patients with endoscopically documented malignant duodena l strictures from pancreatic head carcinoma in whom self-expandable en doprostheses were placed are retrospectively analyzed. In three patien ts with jaundice, biliary stents were also placed. Standard esophageal type (not membrance coated) Wallstent self-expandable endoprostheses were used. Patients: Gastric outlet obstruction was relieved in all pa tients after implantation of duodenal endoprostheses, and jaundice was palliated in those with additional biliary obstruction after bile duc t stenting. One case of gastric ulceration was the major complication. No recurrence of gastric outlet obstruction was noted in the follow-u p period of 1 to 5 months. Conclusion: The preliminary data suggest th at self-expandable duodenal endoprostheses can effectively relieve gas tric outlet obstruction in patients with advanced pancreatic head carc inoma.