STENTING VERSUS PALLIATIVE SURGERY IN PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT GASTROINTESTINAL STENOSIS
Aim: retrospective analysis of the results of stenting versus surgical palliation in patients with malignant gastrointestinal stenosis. Material and methods: 85 patients underwent endoscopic stenting (41) or surgical intervention (44). Level of stenosis: gastric outlet (23/38), multi-level gastric obstruction (2/3), duodenum or jejunum (12/3), gastrojejunoanastomosis (3/0) and gastroduodenoanastomosis (1/0). 49 self-expanding metal stents were implanted in 41 patients. 41 gastroenteroanastomoses and 3 jejunostomas were performed in surgical group. Results: Stents were successfully inserted in all patients. Early complications were observed in 3 (7,3 %) patients after stenting and in 9 (20,5 %) after surgical palliation, p=0,0755. Postoperative lethality was 2,4 % (1 patient) after stenting and 31,8 % (14 patients) after surgery, p=0,0003. Mean hospital stay was 15 days in stenting group and 23 days in surgical group, p<0,001. There was no statistically significant difference in long-term results, neither in late complications (p=0,3691), nor in survival (p=0,3697). Conclusion: Endoscopic placement of self-expanding stents is an effective method of restoration of oral intake in patients with malignant gastrointestinal obstruction. Stenting is associated with equal rates of early and late complications, lower mortality and decreased in-hospital stay as compared with surgery, and therefore may be recommended as a final palliation in inoperable patients.