Ricerc@Sapienza

Aims: Endoscopic placement of Self Expandable Metal Stents to relieve malignant colorectal obstruction has become a common therapeutic advancement in clinical practice. Methods: In a 16 year period 145 patients had endoscopic placement of a Self-Expandable Metal Stent for acute/subacute left sided malignant colorectal obstruction in a center where gastroenterologists and surgeons cooperate in a daily basis, discussing indications. Results: There was no operative mortality and no major complication in placement of the stent. Technical and clinical success was respectively 94.5% and 91.8%.

Endoscopic placement of self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) to relieve malignant colorectal obstruction has been widely accepted in clinical practice. Despite increasing experience, early and late complications occur with an incidence ranging from 4% to 20%.

Endoscopic placement of Self Expandable Metal Stents to relieve malignant colorectal obstruction has become a common therapeutic advancement in clinical practice.