Open surgery versus laparoscopic surgery after stent insertion for obstructive colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: To compare the outcomes of laparoscopic surgery vs. open surgery after insertion of a colonic stent for obstructive colorectal cancer. METHODS: Between April 2005 and August 2013, 58 patients underwent surgery after the insertion of a colonic stent for obstructive colorectal cancer. We analyzed the outcomes of the patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery vs. those who underwent open surgery. RESULTS: We compared blood loss, operative time, hospital stay, and complications in 26 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery and 32 patients who underwent open surgery. Blood loss was significantly less in the laparoscopic surgery group, but operative time was significantly shorter in the open surgery group. The length of hospital stay was shorter in the laparoscopic surgery group than in the open surgery group, but the difference was not significant. There was no significant difference in postoperative surgical complications between the groups. CONCLUSION: The patients who underwent laparoscopic resection had less blood loss, although no significant difference was found in postoperative morbidity or mortality. Thus, laparoscopic resection after stent insertion is a feasible and safe option for patients with obstructive colorectal cancer.

Outcome of 141 cases of self-expandable metallic stent placements for malignant and benign colorectal strictures in a single center.

BACKGROUND: The use of a self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) has emerged as an alternative treatment option for malignant colorectal obstruction. Although the technical success rate of SEMS has been widely reported, outcome data are limited. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated the short- and long-term outcomes of colorectal SEMS for malignant and benign disease in patients who underwent SEMS at a single center. RESULTS: One surgeon inserted all stents under endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance; 141 SEMS procedures were performed in 133 patients (82 males, mean age 69 years). The SEMS procedure was undertaken for: palliation of malignant obstruction in 30 patients (36 cases), and the technical success rate was 94%; a bridge to surgery for colorectal cancers in 98 patients/cases, and the technical success rate was 91%; benign stricture in 5 patients (7 cases), and the technical success rate was 100%. Due to anatomical differences, the success rate was lower at the cecum, descending colon, and sigmoid than in the rectosigmoid and rectum. In 11 cases of technical failures, the failures were due to technical problems in 9 cases (82%) and due to the state of the stricture in 2 cases (18%). Procedure-related complications occurred in 6 patients (4%): perforation in 3 and migration in 3. All perforation cases and one migration case underwent emergency surgery. There was no mortality. In the bridge to surgery group, postoperative complications were much lower in the clinical success cases (6%) than in the failure group (36%). In the palliation treatment group, long-term SEMS migration occurred in 4 patients (14%), and re-obstruction occurred in 5 patients (18%); the mean insertion period was 201 (range: 10-576) days. CONCLUSIONS: Colorectal SEMS had feasible short and long-term results and low morbidity, making it a viable option for various types of colorectal obstruction with careful attention to the indications.