Bridge to surgery in patients with obstructive colorectal cancer Comparison of covered and uncovered stents.

AIM: Placement of self-expandable metallic stent has been used for bridge to surgery in the treatment of colorectal obstruction. Our aim was to compare technical success and complication rates of covered and uncovered inserted stents in colorectal malignant obstruction patients.

MATERIAL OF STUDY: A series of 24 obstruction colorectal cancer patients were selected and included in the study for endoscopic stenting as a bridge to surgery: group 1 (patients with covered stents, n =12); group 2 (patients with uncovered stents, n=12). Technical success and complication rates of all procedures were compared between covered and uncovered stents.

RESULTS: Stent placement was technically successful in all patients with no procedure-related complications. No significant differences between the two groups were found (p-value > 0.05). Complications were observed after the technical success.

CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary data suggest that self-expandable metallic stent is a safe and efficacy approach in patients with malignant colorectal obstruction for bridge to surgery and there are not differences in the use of covered or uncovered stents due to low complication rates and positive outcomes in both groups.

KEY WORDS: Bridge to Surgery, Colorectal Cancer, Emergency Obstruction, Stents.