CASE REPORTS   

Minerva Chirurgica 2007 February;62(1):69-72

Copyright © 2007 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Late complication after colon self-expandable metal stent placement: a case report

Pericoli Ridolfini M. ¹, Sofo L. ¹, Di Giorgio A. ¹, Gourgiotis S. ², Di Miceli D. ¹, Alfieri S. ¹, Doglietto G. B. ¹

¹ Unità di Chirurgia Digestiva Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Policlinico A. Gemelli, Roma, Italy 2 Division of General Surgery and Oncology Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK

Treatment of acute colorectal malignant obstruction, by using self-expandable metallic stents is useful for both palliative and decompressive therapy before the final surgical treatment. In this case, the patient may be benefit from a period of medical optimization prior to undergoing planned surgical resection by a colorectal surgeon. This is a minimally invasive procedure, relatively safe which obviates the need for colostomy for evacuation relieving physical and psychological burden and contributing the improvement of quality of life. Furthermore, this method also has the advantage of being cost-effective. The previous experience in the benign biliary stenosis allowed the extention of using the metallic stents also for the treatment of benign colorectal diseases (diverticular occlusion, anastomotic strictures, colonic endometriosis). Complications of colon self-expandable metallic stents placement may occur during the procedure and soon after placement (early complications) or, rarely, late after insertion (late complications). These include bleeding, reobstruction, pain, tenesmus, stent migration, and perforation. The authors report a case of an 81 year-old woman with inoperable rectal carcinoma with liver metatasis underwent palliative treatment of self-expanding metallic stent endoscopic placement. One month later, the patient presented with acute abdomen at Accidents and Emergencies Department. The diagnosis was a late rectosigmoid junction perforation by stent placement.