Oral intake throughout the patients’ lives after palliative metallic stent placement for malignant gastroduodenal obstruction: a retrospective multicentre study

OBJECTIVESPatients with inoperable malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) have been managed with self-expandable metal stents to improve oral intake. Recent studies have shown conflicting results on the capacity of self-expandable metal stents to restore food intake in the long term. This study evaluated the clinical effectiveness of enteral stent placement for GOO throughout the patients’ lives. METHODSThis was a multicentre, retrospective study with a long-term follow-up of 74 patients who underwent enteral stenting for symptomatic GOO. Data were collected to analyse improvements in oral intake for the patients’ entire lives as assessed by the GOO scoring system (GOOSS), technical success, stent patency, complications, the need for reintervention, survival and the prognostic factors associated with stent patency. RESULTSTechnical and clinical success was achieved in 100 and 97.2% of the patients, respectively. A total of 71/74 patients (95.9%) continued oral intake for the rest of their lives and 58/74 patients (78.4%) needed no further intervention until death. Solid food intake (GOOSS 2–3) continued until death in 47/74 patients (63.5%). The GOOSS score improved (P