Effect of self-expandable metal stent on morbidity and mortality and oncological prognosis in malignant colonic obstruction: retrospective analysis of its use as curative and palliative treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Acute gastrointestinal obstruction due to colorectal cancer occurs in 7-30% of cases and is an abdominal emergency that requires urgent decompression. The safety and oncological effect of self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) in these patients remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate its impact on these variables and compare it with that of emergency surgery (ES). METHODS: Descriptive, retrospective and single-centre study, performed between 2008 and 2015, with follow-up until 2017. One hundred eleven patients with diagnosis of left malignant colonic obstruction were included and divided according to the treatment received: stent as bridge to surgery (SBTS group: 39), palliative stent (PS group: 30) and emergency surgery with curative (ECS group: 34) or palliative intent (EPS group: 8). Treatment was decided by the attending surgeon in charge. RESULTS: Technical and clinical general success rates for colorectal SEMS were 95.7% and 91.3%, respectively, with an associated morbimortality of 23.2%, which was higher in the PS group (p = 0.002). The SBTS group presented a higher laparoscopic approach and primary anastomosis (p < 0.001), as well as a lower colostomy rate than the ECS group (12.8% vs. 40%; p = 0.023). Postoperative morbidity and mortality were significantly lower in the SBTS group compared to the ECS group (41% vs. 67.6%; p = 0.025). Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were similar between the analysed groups. CONCLUSION: Colonic stent placement is a safe and effective therapeutic alternative to emergency surgery in the management of left-sided malignant colonic obstruction in both curative and palliative fields. It presents a lower postoperative morbimortality and a similar oncological prognosis.

[Evolutionary analysis of patient´s morbidity and mortality in emergency surgical care during the pandemic: retrospective comparison between the first and second waves of COVID-19.] / Análisis evolutivo de morbimortalidad en cirugía de urgencias durante la pandemia: comparación retrospectiva entre primera y segunda ola de COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: Since the beginning of the pandemic, morbidity and mortality in emergency care of surgical patients have been the subject of several studies. However, most of these have compared this variable with that of the pre-COVID period, ignoring its evolution during the pandemic itself. In order to analyze this possible change, we performed a comparative study of morbidity and mortality in emergency surgery between the first and second waves of the pandemic in our center. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective longitudinal study including all patients over the age of 18 admitted and/or operated in the emergency setting in the two maximum incidence periods (MIP) of COVID-19 infection (1st MIP: 22/03/2020-31/05/2020; 2nd MIP: 26/08/2020-30/11/2020). The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, treatment received, early morbidity and mortality and possible risk factors for complications were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 173 patients were analyzed (1st MIP: 66; 2nd MIP: 107). The incidence of COVID-19 was higher in the second period (14.95% vs. 4.54%). SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a higher rate of complications, however, no statistically significant differences were observed in morbimortality rate, either in the total sample (p=0.746) or in patients with a positive COVID-19 test (p=0.582) between both periods. Surgical treatment was found to be associated with a lower complication rate in both the first (p=0.006) and second wave (p=0.014), and it was more frequent in the second PMI (70.1 vs. 57.6%) although statistical significance was not reached (p= 0.065). CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were observed in morbimortality of patients admitted and/or operated in the emergency setting in the two periods of maximum incidence of SARS-CoV-2 in our center. Surgical treatment was associated with a lower morbimortality rate, and it was more frequent in the second MIP.