Outcomes of enteral metallic stent in patients with pancreatic carcinoma and gastric outlet obstruction: A single center experience

Background: Duodenal obstruction is uncommon in patients with pancreatic cancer. However, the obstruction rate is increasing as a result of advancements in chemotherapy and target therapy. This study aimed to investigate the effect of self-expandable metal stent placement on outcomes of patients with duodenal obstruction secondary to pancreatic carcinoma. Methods: Twenty-nine consecutive inoperable patients with pancreatic cancer and gastric outlet obstruction who received metallic stent placement in our hospital between September 2009 and October 2017 were enrolled for analysis. Results: Fifteen male patients and 14 female patients receiving stent placement with a median age of 68 years (range, 50–85 years) were included. The technical and clinical success rates of the procedure were 100% and 89.7%, respectively. The Gastric Outlet Obstruction Scoring System scores were significantly improved at day 1 (1.14 ± 0.51) and days 7 (2.21 ± 0.9) after the implantation compared to those prior to the procedure (0.38 ± 0.49) (p < 0.001). Aspiration pneumonia and bleeding developed in 1 patient (3.4%) after the procedure. Stent dysfunction developed in 6 of 29 patients (20.6%). The median stent patency time was 109 days (range, 10–314 days). The median survival time was 114 days (range, 15–323 days). Post-stent chemotherapy predicted better survival (hazard ratio: 0.2, 95% confidence interval: 0.08–0.51, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Metallic stent placement is an effective treatment for patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer leading to gastric outlet obstruction. Chemotherapy may be considered following stent placement.