Pacientes y métodos. Se incluyeron 40 pacientes (29 varones/11 mujeres), con una edad media de 71,2 años (rango, 45-95 años). El 100% presentaba obstrucción intestinal. La ubicación de la estenosis se realizó por colonoscopia o enema opaco. En todos los casos se colocó una prótesis tipo Wallstent® (Schneider, Bülach, Suiza). La indicación fue por obstrucción secundaria a tumor irresecable en 4 casos, metástasis diseminadas en 28 e infiltración de tumores extradigestivos en 8 pacientes.
Resultados. Se resolvió el cuadro en todos los casos. En cuanto a la morbilidad, hubo 5 casos con molestias rectales que cedieron con analgesia suave y uno con rectorragia autolimitada. La tolerancia posterior ha sido buena. Durante el seguimiento se produjeron 2 expulsiones espontáneas, 3 episodios de suboclusión por impactación fecal y 2 obstrucciones por invasión tumoral (se colocó otra prótesis coaxial). Actualmente viven 7 pacientes, con una supervivencia de 3-40 meses, y 33 (82,5%) han fallecido a los 1-18 meses.
Conclusiones. El tratamiento mediante Wallstent® de la obstrucción colorrectal secundaria a neoplasias avanzadas o irresecables es una buena alternativa que evita la colostomía y proporciona un buen nivel de tolerancia y bienestar hasta el fallecimiento del paciente a causa de su enfermedad neoplásica
Patients and methods. We assessed a series of 40 patients (29 men and 11 women; mean age 71.2 years; range: 45 to 95 years) with intestinal obstruction. The stenosis was located by means of colonoscopy or barium enema. A Wallstent® endoprosthesis (Schneider, Bülach, Switzerland) was inserted in every case. The indications were obstruction secondary to a nonresectable tumor (n = 4), disseminated metastases (n = 28) and infiltration by tumors originating from outside the gastrointestinal system (n = 8).
Results. The obstruction resolved in all the patients. Five patients complained of rectal discomfort that was successfully managed with mild analgesics and one presented self-limiting rectal bleeding. The endoprostheses were well tolerated. During the follow-up period, there have been two cases of spontaneous expulsion, three episodes of partial occlusion due to fecal impaction and two cases of obstruction caused by tumor invasion (in which a second, coaxial prosthesis was deployed). At present, there are 7 survivors after follow-up periods ranging between 3 and 40 months. The other 33 patients (82.5%) died between 1 and 18 months after undergoing the procedure.
Conclusions. The Wallstent® endoprosthesis is a good alternative in the treatment of intestinal obstruction secondary to advanced or nonresectable tumors, making colostomy unnecessary. It is well tolerated and provides a high level of patient comfort until death occurs due to the neoplastic disease