Long-term results of palliative stenting or surgery for incurable obstructing colon cancer

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Self-expanding metal stents are an effective means of relieving left-sided malignant colonic obstruction, and in the setting of incurable disease may provide palliation while allowing the patients to avoid surgery altogether. With modern chemotherapy regimes, patients may have a long-life expectancy, even in the presence of metastases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term results of palliative stent placement, compared with patients undergoing palliative surgery. METHOD: This is a retrospective study of 55 consecutive patients who underwent colonic stenting or palliative surgery for incurable, obstructing adenocarcinoma of the left colon. RESULTS: Twenty-nine..