TY - JOUR T1 - Palliative Management of Malignant Antro-pyloric Strictures. Gastroenterostomy <em>vs.</em> Endoscopic Stenting. A Randomized Prospective Trial JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 269 LP - 272 VL - 24 IS - 1 AU - ENRICO FIORI AU - ANTONIETTA LAMAZZA AU - PATRIZIA VOLPINO AU - ANTONIO BURZA AU - CLAUDIA PAPARELLI AU - GIUSEPPE CAVALLARO AU - ALBERTO SCHILLACI AU - VINCENZO CANGEMI Y1 - 2004/01/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/24/1/269.abstract N2 - Background: Gastroenterostomy was the palliative treatment of choice in patients with malignant unresectable gastric outlet obstruction. Palliative endoscopic treatment of malignant gastric outlet obstruction with endoluminal self-expanding metallic stents is nowadays a well-established procedure. Patients and Methods: Eighteen patients referred for treatment with diagnosis of malignant strictures of the antro-pyloric tract presenting at an advanced unresectable stage. The patients were randomily assigned into two treatment groups (endoscopic vs. surgery) according to random-number tables. The length of procedure, morbidity and mortality rate, restoration of oral intake and gastric emptying at 8, 15 days and 3 months from treatment and hospital stay were assessed. Results: Endoscopic group: The median length of procedure was 40 minutes. No death and one minor complication (11.1%) was reported. Mean time for oral intake was 2.1 days. Gastric emptying was satisfactory in 88.9% after 8 days and in 100% of patients after 15 days and 3 months. The median hospital stay was 3.1 days. Surgery group: The median length of the operation was 93 minutes. No mortality was reported. One patient (11.1%) developed anastomotic bleeding which required relaparotomy. Mean time for oral intake was 6.3 days. Gastric emptying was satisfactory in 66.7% of patients after 8 days, in 88.9% after 15 days and in 100% after 3 months. The median hospital stay was 10 days. Conclusion: There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups even with respect to morbidity, mortality, delayed gastric emptying and clinical outcomes at 3-month follow-up. Endoscopic stenting was significantly more effective with respect to operative time, restoration of oral intake and median hospitalization. Our results would suggest that endoscopically placed metal stents offer an effective alternative to surgical palliation in patients with unresectable malignant strictures. ER -