Background and aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical effectiveness, safety, and outcome associated with the use of covered expandable Nitinol stents (Taewoong Medical, Seoul, Korea) for the treatment of malignant gastroduodenal obstructions.
Methods: Between March 2001 and October 2004, covered expandable Nitinol stents were placed in 68 consecutive patients under endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance for the following reasons: gastric carcinoma (n = 49), recurrent carcinoma after partial gastrectomy (n = 7), or another malignant neoplasm involving the duodenum (n = 12).
Results: Technical success was achieved in 60 of the 68 patients (88.2%). After stent placement, mean dysphagia score improved from a mean of 3.5 to 1.2 (P < 0.001). The mean period of primary stent patency was 107.2 days. During follow up (mean 4.4 months; range, 1-15 months), major complications (migration [6], bleeding [3], perforation [1], ingrowth [1], overgrowth [7], fistula [1]) occurred in 19 patients (27.9%), and stent migration occurred in six (8.8%) (proximal migration into the stomach [n = 3], or distal migration [n = 3]). Recurrent dysphagia (mainly due to tumor ingrowth/overgrowth) occurred in eight patients (11.8%).
Conclusion: Covered expandable Nitinol stents appear to offer an effective and feasible palliative therapy in patients with a malignant gastroduodenal obstruction.