Treatment of anastomotic stenosis and leakage after colorectal resection for cancer with self-expandable metal stents

Abstract

Background: Self-expandable metallic stents can be used to treat patients with symptomatic anastomotic complications after colorectal resection.

Methods: Twenty patients with symptomatic anastomotic stricture after colorectal resection were treated with endoscopic placement of a self-expandable metal stent. Ten patients had "simple" anastomotic stricture. In the remaining 10 patients, a leak was associated with the stricture.

Results: The anastomotic leakage healed without evidence of residual stricture or major fecal incontinence in 8 of 10 patients. Overall, the anastomotic stricture was resolved in 14 of the 20 patients.

Conclusions: Self-expandable metal stents represent a valid adjunctive to treat patients with symptomatic anastomotic complications after colorectal resection for cancer. They have a complementary role to balloon dilatation in case of simple anastomotic stricture, and they improve the rate of healing when the stricture is associated with a leak.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer resection; Complications after colorectal resection for cancer; Self expandable metal stents for surgical complications.