Palliative treatment of malignant obstruction of gastric outlet using an endoscopically placed enteral wallstent

Surgical gastrojejunostomy is the standard treatment for malignant gastric outlet obstruction, although it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of a newly designed expandable metal stent (Wallstent Enteral) to treat malignant gastric outlet obstruction. Six patients (five women, one man; mean age 76 years) underwent stenting. Stents 20-22 mm in diameter and 60-90 mm in length were deployed through a duodenoscope channel under endoscopic and fluoroscopic control, without previous stricture dilation. In all six cases the stent was adequately positioned and food intake was possible in the next 24 h. The mean time for hospital discharge was 2.5 days (1-5 days), without complications related to the procedure. Five patients died in the follow-up from progression of their cancer and one remains alive; none had recurrent obstruction. The median survival time was 9 weeks (95% CI: 3-15 weeks). In conclusion, endoscopic self-expandable stent (Wallstent Enteral) placement is safe and effective palliation for malignant gastric outlet obstruction and appears to be a therapeutic alternative to surgical gastrojejunostomy.