Duodenal and colonic stent placement with 0.025″ and 0.035″ guidewires is equally safe and effective.

BACKGROUND: The overwhelming majority of reported duodenal and colonic SEMS placements in the literature have used the 0.035″ guidewire almost to the exclusion of guidewires of other diameters. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to compare technical and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing duodenal or colonic SEMS placement with 0.025″ or 0.035″ guidewires. METHODS: This was a retrospective study to compare technical and clinical outcomes and complications of patients receiving duodenal or colonic SEMS placement with a 0.035″ guidewire to those undergoing placement with a 0.025″ guidewire. RESULTS: A total of 34 duodenal and 30 colonic stent placement procedures were performed in 59 patients. Technical success was achieved in all duodenal stent placement procedures. The difference in mean GOOSS score increase after stent placement was not statistically significant between the 0.035″ and 0.025″ guidewire groups (P = 0.49). Complications were not statistically significantly different between the two groups undergoing gastroduodenal stenting. Technical and clinical success was achieved in all colonic stent placement procedures. There were no statistically significant differences in complication rates between the two groups undergoing colonic stenting. Procedure times were not significantly different using either wire type. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that both 0.035″ and 0.025″ guidewires were equally effective with regards to technical success, clinical success, and with regards to the development of complications.