Self-expanding metal stents could be safe and effective for palliation and during active oncologic treatment of recto-sigmoid malignant obstructions

Background: Some concerns have been raised about the safety and efficacy on palliative usage of self-expanding metal stents (SEMSs) for relieving malignant colonic obstruction. Furthermore, data on the role of these stents during neoadjuvant or palliative chemoradiation/chemotherapy of rectal cancer are scarce. In this study, we present our experience with these special issues. Patients and Methods: We placed 6 colon SEMSs in 6 patients (mean age=55y, 83% female) with symptomatic malignant left-sided colonic obstruction. 5 patients had stage IV, and the remaining patient had stage III disease. Five patients had…