SELF-EXPANDING METALLIC STENTS AS PALLIATIVE TREATMENT OF MALIGNANT GASTRODUODENAL STENOSIS

OBJECTIVE. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of self-expandin g metallic stents as palliative treatment in IO patients with malignan t stenosis of the stomach (n = 2) or the duodenum (n = 8). CONCLUSION. Metallic stents appeared valuable for the treatment of malignant gast roduodenal stenosis in this preliminary study because they provided du rable relief of symptoms in eight of 10 patients for a mean of 93 days , until death. Particular attention should be paid to evaluating the d igestive tract meticulously downstream because this zone was the cause of failure in two patients. Further studies are needed using a larger series.