European Journal of Radiology 60 (2006) 91–94 Colorectal stenting for colonic obstruction: The indications, complications, effectiveness and outcome—5-Year review S. Athreya a,∗ , J. Moss a,∗∗ , G. Urquhart b , R. Edwards a , A. Downie c , F.W. Poon d a Department of Radiology, Gartnavel General Hospital, Great Western Road, Glasgow, United Kingdom b Department of Radiology, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, United Kingdom c Department of Radiology, Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow, United Kingdom d Department of Radiology, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, United Kingdom Received 28 December 2005; received in revised form 11 April 2006; accepted 24 May 2006 Abstract Introduction: Currently self-expanding metallic stents are being used for palliation and acute decompression of colonic obstruction. The aim of this study is to review our experience of using these metallic stents over a 5-year period. Materials and methods: Case records of 102 patients who had colorectal stenting between 1998 and 2004 were reviewed retrospectively. The indications for colorectal stenting, efficacy of the procedure in relieving the obstruction, complications and clinical outcome were analysed. Results: Ninety-nine patients had malignant disease and in three patients a benign cause of obstruction was demonstrated. All procedures were performed during normal working hours. Stenting was technically successful in 87 patients (85%). A single stent was placed in 80 patients. Seven patients required two stents. Of the successful cases, 67 had stents placed by fluoroscopy alone and 20 by a combined fluoroscopy/endoscopy procedure. Four percent had early complications (within 30 days) which included four perforations. There were late complications (over 30 days) in 9% which included five stent migrations, two blocked stents and one colovesical fistula. Ninety percent (n = 76) of the successful patients needed no further radiological or surgical intervention later. Survival ranged from 14 days to 2 years. Conclusion: Colorectal stenting when technically successful is an effective procedure for both preoperative and palliative decompression of colonic obstruction. © 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Colorectal stent; Colonic obstruction; Palliation 1. Introduction Colorectal carcinoma is a common disease with about 25,000 new cases in the UK annually. Most occur in the descending and recto-sigmoid colon [1]. Between 10 and 30% of the colorectal carcinomas present with acute obstruction and the mortality and morbidity rates for emergency surgery are 15 and 50%, respec- tively [2]. Since the first stenting by Dohmoto [3], considerable experi- ence has been gathered regarding the clinical effectiveness and safety of the colonic stenting in relieving obstruction [5–8,19]. ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +44 141 2113113. ∗∗ Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: harshavbs@yahoo.com (S. Athreya), j.moss@clinmed.gla.ac.uk (J. Moss). The aim of this study is to evaluate the indications, efficacy and complications of colorectal stents performed in four Glas- gow hospitals over a 5-year period. 2. Materials and methods A retrospective review of case records of all the patients who underwent colonic stents in four teaching hospitals in Glasgow from 1998 to 2004 was carried out. The data since august 2003 has been obtained prospectively. One hundred and eighteen patients underwent colorectal stents of which 102 case records were available for analysis. The data collected included the indications, complications, and the efficacy of the procedure in relieving the obstruction. Any further reinterventions either surgical or radiological were also noted. 0720-048X/$ – see front matter © 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2006.05.017