Colorectal Stent Placement Research Articles

A Japanese Prospective, Multicenter Study of Colonic Stenting for Palliation Using a High Axial Force Self-Expandable Metal Stent for Malignant Large Bowel Obstruction in 200 Patients.

Evidence of the efficacy and safety of colorectal stent placement for palliation remains insufficient. This single-arm, prospective, multicenter study with a WallFlex enteral colonic stent included 200 consecutive patients with malignant large bowl obstruction in the palliation cohort. The technical and clinical success, as well as stent patency and complications as short-term (≤7 days) and long-term (>7 days) outcomes, of high axial force self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) placement was evaluated. The technical and clinical success rates were 98.5% and 94.5%, respectively. Non-recurrent colorectal obstruction at 1 year was 63.9%, and 71.2% of the patients remained free of recurrent colorectal obstruction until death or the last follow-up. Fifty-six patients (28.0%) received chemotherapy, and five patients were administered bevacizumab after stent placement. The overall complication rate was 47%, including four (2.0%) early-onset and ten (5.0%) late-onset perforations, mostly due to stent-edge injury. Only the use of a long SEMS was a risk factor for perforation. In conclusion, endoscopic colorectal stenting using high axial force SEMS is an effective and safe procedure for palliation in patients with malignant colorectal obstruction. However, care should be taken to avoid perforation at the stent edge when using a long SEMS.

Colorectal stent placement assisted by a slim gastroscope: technique and outcomes.

The distorted anatomy in patients with obstruction renders colon stent placement difficult. Here, we propose two novel techniques for stent implantation. Patients in whom there was difficulty placing the guidewire with the normal method were retrospectively included in our study. All of the patients underwent the technique of combining a slim gastroscope with a normal colonoscope. We assessed the technical success, clinical success, and adverse events associated with self-expanding metal stent placement. From June 2018 to June 2020, 30.5% of patients with difficult catheterization were included in this study. Finally, stents in 17 of 18 patients (3 rectum, 13 sigmoid colon, 1 descending colon, and 1 hepatic flexure) (94.4%) were placed successfully, assisted by a slim gastroscope with or without radiography, and the obstruction was relieved. Only one remaining patient experienced failure. No intraoperative or 30-day postoperative morbidity or mortality was observed. The present study showed that the stent implantation technique assisted by a slim gastroscope combined with a normal colonoscope was a relatively safe and effective method for abolishing difficult intestinal stenosis. More studies are needed to compare the advantages and disadvantages of this technique with normal endoscopic implantation.

Fluoroscopic Rescue of Failed Endoscopic Stent Placement for Obstructing Colorectal Malignancy

OBJECTIVE. This study evaluated the technical feasibility and clinical effectiveness of fluoroscopic stent placement in malignant colorectal obstructions after failed endoscopic stent placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Between January 2004 and December 2017, 41 patients with malignant colorectal obstructions were referred for fluoroscopic stent placement after failed endoscopy. The procedures were performed for palliation (n = 35) or as a bridge to surgery (n = 6). The technical and clinical success, complications, stent patency duration, and patient survival were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS. Fluoroscopic stent placement was technically successful in 38 patients (92.7%). The causes of technical failure were complete obstruction (n = 1), redundant sigmoid colon (n = 1), and colon perforation (n = 1). Clinical success was achieved in 37 patients with technical success (97.4%). Major complications occurred in three patients (7.9%) and included colon perforation (n = 2) and anal pain (n = 1). The six patients with stenting as a bridge to surgery underwent elective colectomy uneventfully (100%). In 32 patients with technically successful palliative stenting, the median primary stent patency duration and patient survival were 353 days (95% CI, 162-353 days) and 335 days (95% CI, 116-335 days), respectively. CONCLUSION. Fluoroscopic colorectal stent placement is technically feasible and clinically effective in most patients with failed endoscopic procedures.

Short- and long-term clinical outcomes of self-expandable metal stents inserted for colorectal obstruction and efficacy of different insertion techniques

Objectives(1) To evaluate the short- and long-term clinical outcomes of patients after colorectal stent placement and (2) to assess the safety and efficacy of the stents for the resolution of colorectal obstruction according to the insertion technique. MethodsRetrospective cohort study which included 177 patients with colonic obstruction who underwent insertion of a stent. ResultsA total of 196 stents were implanted in 177 patients. Overall, the most common cause of obstruction was colorectal cancer (89.3%). Ninety-two stents (47%) were placed by radiologic technique and 104 (53%) by endoscopy under fluoroscopic guidance. Technical success rates were 95% in both groups. Clinical success rates were 77% in the radiological group and 81% in the endoscopic group (p>0.05). The rate of complications was higher in the radiologic group compared with the endoscopic group (38% vs 20%, respectively; p=0.006). Among patients with colorectal cancer (158), 65 stents were placed for palliation but 30% eventually required surgery. The multivariate analysis identified three factors associated with poorer long-term survival: tumor stage IV, comorbidity and onset of complications. ConclusionsStents may be an alternative to emergency surgery in colorectal obstruction, but the clinical outcome depends on the tumor stage, comorbidity and stent complications. The rate of definitive palliative stent placement was high; although surgery was eventually required in 30%. Our study suggests that the endoscopic method of stent placement is safer than the radiologic method.

Ostomy Creation for Palliative Care of Patients With Nonresectable Colorectal Cancer and Bowel Obstruction.

The purpose of this study was to review our experience with palliative ostomy surgery in patients with bowel obstruction and advanced stage colorectal cancer. A descriptive, retrospective review of data from a prospectively collected clinical database. The sample comprised 86 patients (55 male) who underwent palliative surgery between October 1998 and January 2009. All patients undergoing palliative stoma formation without resection for colorectal carcinoma were identified from a prospectively compiled colorectal cancer database. Patients having colorectal stent placement and bypass surgery were excluded from analysis. The median age at surgery was 71 years (interquartile range, 65-79 years). The median survival following ostomy creation was 103 days (interquartile range, 19-263 days). Sixty-nine percent of participants (n = 59) survived 30 days and 18% (n=16) survived 12 months. Our results confirm that patients undergoing palliative stoma formation have limited life expectancy. Nevertheless, these findings are encouraging when compared to the anticipated outcomes of untreated bowel obstruction.

Safety and efficacy of palliative colorectal stent placement using a nasal endoscope technique.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of palliative self-expanding metallic stent (SEMS) placement using a nasal endoscope technique in the context of colorectal malignant obstruction. Eighteen patients with malignant colorectal obstruction who underwent palliative SEMS insertion using a nasal endoscope technique at the Toyonaka Municipal Hospital from August 2005 to August 2011 were enrolled and retrospectively analyzed. In all cases, a guidewire could be inserted on the oral side of the tumor. The placement success rate was 94.4% (17/18), and the complication rate was 23.5% (4 cases). The stent migrated in 3 cases, and perforation occurred in 1 case following bevacizumab chemotherapy. These outcomes indicate that stenting is useful for terminal patients and that nasal endoscopy is useful in cases of difficult guidewire placement.

An unusual case of pneumoperitoneum, pneumomediastinum, and subcutaneous emphysema following colorectal stent placement.

An unusual case of pneumoperitoneum, pneumomediastinum, and subcutaneous emphysema following colorectal stent placement.

Colorectal stenting for palliation and as a bridge to surgery: A 5-year follow-up study.

To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of colonic stents in colorectal tumors causing large bowel obstruction. We retrospectively analyzed data from 49 patients with colorectal cancer who had undergone colorectal stent placement between January 2008 and January 2013. Patients' symptoms, characteristics and clinicopathological data were obtained by reviewing medical records. The obstruction was diagnosed clinically and radiologically. Histopathological diagnosis was achieved endoscopically. Technical success rate (TSR) was defined as the ratio of patients with correctly placed SEMS upon stent deployment across the entire stricture length to total number of patients. Clinical success rate (CSR) was defined as the ratio of patients with technical success and successful maintenance of stent function before elective surgery (regardless of number of SEMS deployed) to total number of patients. The surgical success rate (SSR) of colorectal stent as a bridge to surgery was defined as the ratio of patients with successful surgical procedures. Unsuccessful surgical outcomes were defined as being due to insufficient colonic decompression. The technical, clinical, surgical success rates and complications after stenting were assessed. The median age of patients was 64 (36 to 89). 44.9% of patients were male and 55.1% were female. Eighteen patients had the obstruction located in the rectum, 15 patients in the rectosigmoid region, 10 patients in the sigmoid region, and 6 patients had a tumor causing obstruction in the proximal colon. Each patient was categorized pathologically as stage 2 (32.7%, 16 patients) or stage 3 (42.9%, 21 patients) and 12 patients (24.4%) had metastatic disease. None of the patients received chemotherapy before stenting. Stenting was undertaken in 37 patients as a bridge to surgery, and in 12 patients stents were used for palliation. Median time to surgery after stenting was 30 ± 91.9 d. All surgery was completed in one single operation and thus no colostomy with stoma was needed. The median overall survival rate of patients with stage 2-3 colorectal cancer was 53.1 mo and stage 4 was 37.1 mo (P = 0.04). Metastatic colorectal patients who were treated palliatively with stents had backbone chemotherapy with oxaliplatin and/or irinotecan-based regimens plus antiangiogenic therapies, especially bevacizumab. Resolution of the obstruction and clinical improvement was achieved in all patients. The technical, clinical and surgical success rates were 95.9%, 100% and 94.6%, respectively. The efficacy and safety of colonic stents was demonstrated both as a bridge to surgery and for palliative decompression. In addition, results emphasize the importance of the skills of the endoscopist in colonic stenting.

Perforation in colorectal stenting: a meta-analysis and a search for risk factors

Recent studies suggest that there is a substantial risk of perforation after colorectal stent placement. To identify risk factors for perforation from colonic stenting. A meta-analysis of 86 studies published between 2005 and2011. Multicenter review. All patients who underwent colorectal stent placement. Colorectal stent placement. The occurrence of perforation with subgroup analyses for stent design, stricture etiology, stricture dilation, and concomitant chemotherapy, including the use of bevacizumab. A total of 4086 patients underwent colorectal stent placement; perforation occurred in 207. Meta-analysis revealed an overall perforation rate of 7.4%. Of the 9 most frequently used stent types, the WallFlex, the Comvi, and the Niti-S D-type had a higher perforation rate (>10%). A lower perforation rate (<5%) was found for the Hanarostent and the Niti-S covered stent. Stenting benign strictures was associated with a significantly increased perforation rate of 18.4% compared with 7.5% for malignant strictures. Dilation did not increase the risk of perforation: 8.5% versus 8.5% without dilation. The subgroup of post-stent placement dilation had a significantly increased perforation risk of 20.4%. With a perforation rate of 12.5%, bevacizumab-based therapy was identified as a risk factor for perforation, whereas the risk for chemotherapy without bevacizumab was 7.0% and not increased compared with the group without concomitant therapies during stent therapy (9.0%). Heterogeneity; a considerable proportion of data is unavailable for subgroup analysis. The perforation rate of colonic stenting is 7.4%. Stent design, benign etiology, and bevacizumab were identified as risk factors for perforation. Intraprocedural stricture dilation and concomitant chemotherapy were not associated with an increased risk of perforation.

The role of colorectal stent placement in the management of acute malignant obstruction

In recent decades, the use of colorectal stents for palliation or as a bridge to surgery in acute malignant colorectal obstruction has increased. We aimed to evaluate the technical and clinical efficacy, safety and clinical outcomes of endoscopic stenting for the relief of acute colorectal obstruction secondary to cancer. From March 2006 to December 2012, among 100 patients with acute malignant colorectal obstruction, stenting procedures were performed on 42 patients for relief of obstruction. Uncovered self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) were placed endoscopically under fluoroscopic guidance in all patients. Using the patient database, a review was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the procedure and the short- and long-term complications. Stent placement was technically successful in 39/42 (92.8%) and clinically successful in 38/42 (90.4%) patients. Sixteen patients later underwent an elective surgical resection, and in 26 patients with metastatic disease or comorbidity, stent placement was palliative. Complications occurred in 10 (23.8%) patients, and the most common was tenesmus (n=3). Migration, bleeding, and recto-sigmoid perforation occurred in two patients each. Stent obstruction due to fecal impaction was seen in one case. Stent placement for colorectal obstruction is an effective and relatively safe procedure, with minor complications. It not only allows subsequent elective resection, but is also definitive for palliative treatment in patients with obstructive colorectal cancer.

Usefulness of a Guiding Sheath for Fluoroscopic Colorectal Stent Placement

ObjectiveTo investigate the technical feasibility, clinical usefulness, and safety of a guiding sheath in fluoroscopic stent placement for patients with malignant colorectal obstructions.Materials and MethodsBetween June 2007 and January 2011, fluoroscopic placement of a dual colorectal stent was attempted in a total of 97 patients with malignant colorectal obstructions. A polytetrafluoroethylene guiding sheath was used in patients in whom a stent delivery system failed to reach the obstruction. Usefulness of the sheath was evaluated depending on whether the sheath could successfully assist the stent delivery system reach its area of interest.ResultsThe guiding sheath was needed in 22 patients (15 men, 7 women; age range, 33-77 years; mean age, 59 years). The overall success rate for passing the sheath to the area of interest was 100%. There were no procedure-related deaths or major complications. The majority of the patients reported mild discomfort. In 2 of 22 patients with successful passing of the sheath to the area of interest, stent placement failed because of failure in the negotiation of a guide wire through the obstruction.ConclusionUsing a guiding sheath seems to be easy, safe and useful in fluoroscopic stent placement for patients with malignant colorectal obstructions.

Prospective Assessment of Risk of Bacteremia Following Colorectal Stent Placement

Colorectal stent insertion is an invasive endoscopic procedure. However, there are no reports regarding the incidence of bacteremia with colorectal stent. This study was to evaluate the risk of bacteremia and infectious complications after stent insertion for colorectal obstruction. Patients who underwent colorectal stent insertion were enrolled consecutively. Blood cultures were obtained before colorectal stent insertion and at 30 min after the procedure. Patients were monitored for 48 h after colorectal stent insertion to detect the development of infectious complications. Procedural data collected included location of obstruction, degree of bowel preparation, obstructive symptoms, and the time required for the procedure. Of 64 patients undergoing colorectal stent, four (6.3%) had a positive post-stent blood culture. All patients, including those with positive cultures, remained asymptomatic during the 48 h after the procedure. Site of obstruction, degree of bowel preparation, age, and underlying disease were not different between the two groups. Development of bacteremia was associated with long procedure time (p < 0.05). Colorectal stent insertion does not induce significant bacteremia in patients with colorectal obstruction. These findings suggest that the routine use of prophylactic antibiotics may not be necessary in colorectal stent insertion.

Ten-year Retrospective Study of Treatment of Malignant Colonic Obstructions with Self-expandable Stents

Purpose To describe the use of self-expandable metallic stents to manage malignant colorectal obstructions and to compare the radiation dose between fluoroscopic guidance of stent placement and combined endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance. Materials and Methods From January 1998 to December 2007, 467 oncology patients undergoing colorectal stent placement in a single center were included in the study. Informed consent was obtained in all cases. All procedures were performed with fluoroscopic or combined fluoroscopic and endoscopic guidance. Inclusion criteria were total or partial colorectal obstruction of neoplastic origin. Exclusion criteria were life expectancy shorter than 1 month, suspicion of perforation, and/or severe colonic neoplastic bleeding. Procedure time and radiation dose were recorded, and technical and clinical success were evaluated. Follow-up was performed by clinical examination and simple abdominal radiographs at 1 day and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Results Of 467 procedures, technical success was achieved in 432 (92.5%). Thirty-five treatments (7.5%) were technical failures, and the patients were advised to undergo surgery. Significant differences in radiation dose and clinical success were found between the fluoroscopy and combined-technique groups ( P < .001). Total decompression was achieved in 372 cases, 29 patients showed remarkable improvement, 11 showed slight improvement, and 20 showed clinical failure. Complications were recorded in 89 patients (19%); the most significant were perforation (2.3%) and stent migration (6.9%). Mean interventional time and radiation dose were 67 minutes and 3,378 dGy·cm 2, respectively. Conclusions Treatment of colonic obstruction with stents requires a long time in the interventional room and considerable radiation dose. Nevertheless, the clinical benefits and improvement in quality of life justify the radiation risk.

Fluoroscopic Management of Complications after Colorectal Stent Placement

Colorectal self-expanding metal stents have been widely used as a bridge to surgery in patients with acute malignant colonic obstruction by allowing a single-stage operation, or as a definitive palliative procedure in patients with inoperable tumors. Colonic stents are placed under either fluoroscopic or combined endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance, with similar technical-success and complication rates. Placement of colonic stents is a very safe procedure with a low procedure-related mortality rate, but serious complications can develop and reinterventions are not uncommon. Most of the complications can be treated by minimally invasive or conservative techniques, while surgical interventions are required for most patients with perforation.

Treatment of benign colorectal strictures by temporary stenting with self-expanding stents

The application of stents in benign colorectal strictures is considered controversial. The aim of the present study was to assess effectiveness and complications associated with colorectal stent placement in benign colorectal disease. Fourteen patients with benign colorectal strictures who had undergone previous surgery (colorectal anastomotic stenosis, 13; neosphincter scar stenosis, one) were treated with covered self-expanding metal stent or plastic stent. Placement of the stent was performed with combined endoscopy and contrast enhanced fluoroscopy. Self-expanding stents were successful implanted in all 14 patients without acute procedure-related complications. All patients experienced immediate decompression after stent placement with expansion and patency of the stent. Relief of bowel obstruction for at least 12 months was achieved in seven of 14 patients (50%). Anastomotic fistula healed in four of six patients (67%). Despite the initial success of stenting, re-operations had to be performed in two of seven patients because of late recurrence of the stricture after a mean follow-up of 37 months. Temporary insertion of self-expanding stents is a safe procedure that may be effective in selected cases of benign colorectal stricture. However, repeat surgery will be necessary in a considerable number of patients due to primary or secondary failure of stenting.

Update on the Indications and Use of Colonic Stents

Self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) placement is a minimally invasive option for achieving acute colonic decompression in obstructed colorectal cancer. Colorectal stenting offers nonoperative, immediate, and effective colon decompression and allows bowel preparation for an elective oncologic resection. Patients who benefit the most are high-risk surgical patients and candidates for laparoscopic resection with complete obstruction, because emergency surgery can be avoided in more than 90% of patients. Colonic stent placement also offers effective palliation of malignant colonic obstruction, although it carries risks of delayed complications. When performed by experienced endoscopists, the technical success rate is high with a low procedural complication rate. Despite concerns of tumor seeding following endoscopic colorectal stent placement, no difference exists in oncologic long-term survival between patients who undergo stent placement followed by elective resection and those undergoing emergency bowel resection. Colorectal stents have also been used in selected patients with benign colonic strictures. Uncovered metal stents should be avoided in these patients, and fully covered stents are associated with high risk of migration. Patients with benign colonic stricture with acute colonic obstruction who are at high risk for emergency surgery can gain temporary relief of obstruction after SEMS placement; the stent can be removed en bloc with the colon specimen at surgery. This article reviews the techniques and indications of SEMS placement for benign and malignant colorectal obstructions.

Usefulness of multifunctional gastrointestinal coil catheter for colorectal stent placement

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a multifunctional gastrointestinal coil catheter for stent placement in 98 patients with colorectal strictures. The catheter was used in 98 consecutive patients for stent placement in the rectum (n = 24), recto-sigmoid (n = 13), sigmoid (n = 38), descending (n = 6), transverse (n = 11), splenic flexure (n = 3), hepatic flexure (n = 2), and ascending (n = 1) colon. The catheter was made of a stainless steel coil (1.3 mm in inner diameter), a 0.4-mm nitinol wire, a polyolefin tube, and a hemostasis valve. Usefulness of the catheter was evaluated depending on whether the catheter could pass a stricture over a guide wire and whether measurement of the stricture length was possible. The passage of the catheter over a guide wire beyond the stricture was technically successful and well tolerated in 93 (94.9%) of 98 patients. In the failed five patients, it was not possible to negotiate the guide wire due to presence of nearly complete small bowel obstruction. The average length of stricture was 6.15 cm (range, 3 cm to 20 cm) in patients with the colorectal stricture. There were no procedure-related complications. In conclusion, the multifunctional coil catheter seems to be useful in colorectal stent placement.

Colorectal Stents for Palliation of Large-Bowel Obstructions in Recurrent Gynecologic Cancer: An Updated Series

Patients with large bowel obstruction of malignant origin often are quite ill at presentation, and urgent surgery—often in the form of decompressive colostomy—carries high morbidity and mortality rates. An alternative to emergency surgery in this setting is to install a colonic stent. This study reviewed the records of 35 patients with various gynecologic cancers who had colorectal stent placement in the years 2001–2006 with the goal of relieving large bowel obstruction. Recurrent ovarian cancer was present in 25 patients, recurrent endometrial cancer in seven, primary peritoneal carcinoma in two, and recurrent cervical cancer in one. The median age at the time of stent placement was 54 years. The median length of bowel obstruction was 6.5 cm. Six of the patients had a 1- to 2-mm lumen, while the other 29 had complete obstruction and required balloon dilation before deploying the stent. Successful stent placement, defined as decompression followed immediately by the passage of flatus and stool, was achieved inn 27 patients, 77% of those in the study. One-third of these patients had additional surgery to relieve obstruction, most often colostomy or drainage gastrotomy. When stent placement failed, a nontraversable stricture and angulation of the bowel were responsible. Five of 8 patients in whom the procedure failed required colonoscopy, and three required gastrotomy. When stent placement succeeded, the median survival time after the procedure was 7.7 months, compared to 1.9 months when it failed; this difference was not statistically significant. The median hospital stay for successfully managed patients was 15 days. Placing a colonic stent is a worthwhile option for patients having large bowel obstruction caused by recurrent gynecologic cancer; it may preclude the need for major surgery.

Colorectal stents for palliation of large-bowel obstructions in recurrent gynecologic cancer: An updated series

Objective. Malignant large-bowel obstruction in the acute setting is considered a surgical emergency. Surgical intervention has been the standard treatment for patients presenting with large-bowel obstruction. Surgery in severely ill patients, however, can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Our objective was to review and update our experience with colonic stent placement for patients presenting with a large-bowel obstruction due to recurrent gynecologic malignancy. Methods. We reviewed the records of all patients with gynecologic cancer who underwent colorectal stent placement for palliation of a large-bowel obstruction from January 2001 to October 2006. Results. Thirty-five patients were identified—25 patients had recurrent ovarian cancer, 7 patients had recurrent endometrial cancer, 2 patients had primary peritoneal carcinoma, and 1 patient had recurrent cervical cancer. The median age at the time of stent placement was 54 years (range, 21–79). The median length of the large-bowel obstruction was 6.5 cm (range, 1–20 cm). Six patients had a lumen of 1 to 2 mm before stent placement, while 29 patients had complete obstruction and needed balloon dilatation before deployment of the stent. Twenty-seven patients (77%) underwent successful stent placement and immediate decompression at the time of colorectal stent placement. Of the patients who had successful stent placement, 9 (33%) underwent additional surgery to relieve obstruction-drainage gastrotomy, 3; colostomy, 4; and stent revision, 2. Eight patients (23%) had failed stent placement secondary to non-traversable strictures and angulation of the bowel. Of these 8 patients, 5 needed colostomy and 3 needed gastrotomy. Of the 27 patients who underwent successful stent placement, the median survival after placement was 7.7 months (95% CI, 3.19–11.9 months). Conclusion. In the management of patients with large-bowel obstructions due to recurrent gynecologic cancer, colonic stents appear to be a reasonable option that may enable patients to avoid major surgery.

Colorectal Stenting: An Effective Therapy for Preoperative and Palliative Treatment

To demonstrate the effectiveness of preoperative and palliative colorectal stent placement in acute colonic obstruction. Sixty-seven consecutive patients (mean age 67.3 years, range 25-93 years) with clinical and radiological signs of colonic obstruction were treated: 45 (67%) preoperatively and 22 (33%) with a palliative intent. In 59 patients (88%) the obstruction was malignant, while in 8 (12%) it was benign. A total of 73 enteric Wallstents were implanted under combined fluoroscopic/endoscopic guidance. Forty-five patients were treated preoperatively with a technical success rate of 84%, a clinical success rate of 83%, and a complication rate of 16%. Of the 38 patients who were successfully stented preoperatively, 36 (95%) underwent surgery 2-22 days (mean 7.2 days) after stent insertion. The improved general condition and adequate bowel cleansing allowed single-stage tumor resection and primary end-to-end anastomosis without complications in 31 cases (86% of all operations), while only 5 patients had colostomies. Stent placement was used as the final palliative treatment in 22 patients. The technical success rate was 95%, the clinical success rate 72%, and the complication rate relatively high at 67%, caused by reocclusion in most cases. After noninvasive secondary interventions (e.g., tube placement, second stenting, balloon dilatation) the secondary patency of stents was 71% and mean reported survival time after stent insertion was 92 days (range 10-285 days). Preoperative stent placement in acute colonic obstruction is minimally invasive and allows an elective one-stage surgery in most cases. Stent placement also proved a valuable alternative to avoid colostomy in palliation.