Abstract

Background
/Aims: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness and safety of the use of uncovered self-expandable metallic stents as a palliative therapy for gastric outlet obstruction caused by stomach cancer. Methods: A total of 36 patients who underwent uncovered stent insertion were investigated. Hanarostents (uncovered pyloric/duodenal stents, M.I. Tech Co., Ltd.) were used in the procedures. The technical success rate, clinical success rate, presence of clinical symptoms and complications were estimated during the study period. Results: The technical success rate for stent replacement was 97.2% (35 out of 36 patients) and the clinical success rate was 91.7% (33 out of 36 patients). The mean dysphagia scores before and after the procedures were 2.44 and 0.92, respectively. The median hospital stay after stenting was 10 days and the mean follow-up period was 91 days. Thirteen patients died during the follow-up period (mean survival, 70 days). The complication rate was 22.2% (8 out of 36 patients). Restenosis occurred in four cases, bleeding in two cases, pain in one case and stent migration in one case. There were no deaths related to the procedures. Conclusions: These findings suggest that placement of uncovered self-expandable metallic stents for gastric outlet obstruction caused by stomach cancer results in good symptomatic improvement with a low rate of complications. (Korean J Gastrointest Endosc 2008;36:336-340)

• Keywords: Gastric outlet obstruction, Uncovered self- expandable metallic stent