PURPOSE:

We aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of fluoroscopy-guided gastroduodenal metallic stent placement with different approaches in malignant obstruction.

METHODS:

We retrospectively assessed 53 patients (33 men and 20 women; mean age, 58.7±15 years) who underwent stent placement between February 2004 and April 2014. All patients had unresectable tumors. The most common causes of obstruction were gastric (38%) and pancreatic cancers (36%). Uncovered self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) were placed under fluoroscopic guidance. In addition to transoral approach in 46 patients (86.7%), transgastric and transhepatic approaches were used in six patients (11.3%) and one patient (1.8%), respectively. Gastric outlet obstruction scoring system (GOOSS) was used to evaluate oral intake before and after stenting. Patients were followed until death or the end of the study.

RESULTS:

Technical and clinical success rates were 100% and 92%, respectively. The median stent patency was 76 days (range, 4–985 days). Mean preprocedural GOOSS score of 0.1 increased to postprocedural GOOSS score of 2.42 (P < 0.001). Afferent loop decompression was achieved in one symptomatic patient. Neither mortality nor major complications occurred due to stenting. Stent migration occurred in one patient (2%) and stent obstruction occurred in two patients (4%). Combined biliary and duodenal stenting were performed in 21 patients (40%). Post-stenting GOOSS scores were predictive of survival (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSION:

Fluoroscopic metallic stent placement for palliation of malignant gastroduodenal obstruction is safe and effective with high technical and clinical success rates and minimal complications. High technical success rates can be achieved using different approaches.