Self-expandable metal stents for obstructing colonic and extracolonic cancer: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline – Update 2020

Main Recommendations

The following recommendations should only be applied after a thorough diagnostic evaluation including a contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan.

1 ESGE recommends colonic stenting to be reserved for patients with clinical symptoms and radiological signs of malignant large-bowel obstruction, without signs of perforation. ESGE does not recommend prophylactic stent placement.

Strong recommendation, low quality evidence.

2 ESGE recommends stenting as a bridge to surgery to be discussed, within a shared decision-making process, as a treatment option in patients with potentially curable left-sided obstructing colon cancer as an alternative to emergency resection.

Strong recommendation, high quality evidence.

3 ESGE recommends colonic stenting as the preferred treatment for palliation of malignant colonic obstruction.

Strong recommendation, high quality evidence.

4 ESGE suggests consideration of colonic stenting for malignant obstruction of the proximal colon either as a bridge to surgery or in a palliative setting.

Weak recommendation, low quality evidence.

5 ESGE suggests a time interval of approximately 2 weeks until resection when colonic stenting is performed as a bridge to elective surgery in patients with curable left-sided colon cancer.

Weak recommendation, low quality evidence.

6 ESGE recommends that colonic stenting should be performed or directly supervised by an operator who can demonstrate competence in both colonoscopy and fluoroscopic techniques and who performs colonic stenting on a regular basis.

Strong recommendation, low quality evidence.

7 ESGE suggests that a decompressing stoma as a bridge to elective surgery is a valid option if the patient is not a candidate for colonic stenting or when stenting expertise is not available.

Weak recommendation, low quality evidence.

Abbreviations

ASA: American Society for Anesthesiologists

CI: confidence interval

CT: computed tomography

CTC: computed tomography colonoscopy

ECM: extracolonic malignancy

ESGE: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

GRADE: Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation

HR: hazard ratio

ICU: intensive care unit

MOPC: malignant obstruction of proximal colon

OTW: over-the-[guide]wire

OR: odds ratio

RCT: randomized controlled trial

RR: risk ratio

SD: standard deviation

SEMS: self-expandable metal stent

TDT: transanal decompression

TTS: through-the scope

Introduction

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, particularly in the economically developed world [1]. Large-bowel obstruction caused by advanced colonic cancer occurs in 8 % – 13 % of colonic cancer patients [2] [3] [4]. The management of this severe clinical condition has been controversial [5]. Over the last decade, many articles have been published on the subject of colonic stenting for malignant colonic obstruction, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews. Thereby, the role of self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) in the treatment of malignant colonic obstruction has become better defined. This evidence- and consensus-based clinical guideline has been developed by the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE). It is an update of the previously published guideline [6], and aims to put into perspective the new evidence that has become available over the last 5 years and to provide statements regarding the use of SEMS in the treatment of malignant colonic obstruction.

With the exception of one trial [7], all published RCTs on colonic stenting for malignant obstruction excluded rectal cancers, which were usually defined as within 8 to 10 cm of the anal verge, and colonic cancers proximal to the splenic flexure. Rectal stenting is often avoided because of the presumed association with complications such as pain, tenesmus, incontinence, and stent migration. Proximal colonic obstruction is generally managed with primary surgery, although there are no RCTs to support this assumption. Because of the aforementioned limitations, unless indicated otherwise, the recommendations in this Guideline only apply to left-sided colon cancer arising from the rectosigmoid colon, sigmoid colon, descending colon, and splenic flexure, while excluding rectal cancers and those proximal to the splenic flexure, and other causes of colonic obstruction including extracolonic obstruction.

Methods

ESGE commissioned this Guideline and appointed a guideline leader (J.v.H.), who invited the listed authors to participate in the project development. The key questions were prepared by the coordinating team (J.V. and J.v.H.) and then approved by the other members. The coordinating team formed task force subgroups, each with its own leader, and divided the key topics among these task forces (see Appendix 1s, online-only Supplementary Material).

Each task force performed a systematic literature search to prepare evidence-based and well-balanced statements on their assigned key questions. The coordinating team independently performed systematic literature searches with the assistance of a librarian. The Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched including at a minimum the following key words: colon, cancer, malignancy or neoplasm, obstruction, and stents. All articles studying the use of colonic stenting for malignant large-bowel obstruction were selected by title or abstract. After further exploration of the content, articles containing relevant data were then included and summarized in the literature tables of the key topics (see Appendix 2s, Tables 1s – 5s). All selected articles were graded by the level of evidence and strength of recommendation according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system [8]. The literature searches were updated until July 2019.

Each task force proposed statements on their assigned key questions which were discussed and voted on during the plenary meeting held in September 2019, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. An overview of the statements of the previous guideline published in 2014 [6] versus the updated statements was created (Appendix 3s). In October 2019, a draft prepared by the coordinating team was sent to all group members. After agreement of all members had been obtained, the manuscript was reviewed by two external reviewers and was sent for further comments to the ESGE national societies and individual members. After this, the manuscript was submitted to the journal Endoscopy for publication. All authors agreed on the final revised manuscript.

This Guideline was issued in 2020 and will be considered for review in 2025 or sooner if new and relevant evidence becomes available. Any updates to the Guideline in the interim will be noted on the ESGE website: http://www.esge.com/esgeguidelines.html.

Recommendations and statements

General considerations before colonic stenting

Colonic stenting is indicated only in those patients with both obstructive symptoms and radiological findings suspicious of malignant large-bowel obstruction. Obstruction is a predominant complication of the tumor in patients treated primarily with chemotherapy because of metastasized colorectal cancer at diagnosis [9]. Colonoscopic nontraversability, i. e., the inability to advance the scope beyond the tumor, has been suggested as a risk factor for the development of symptomatic bowel obstruction during treatment with primary chemotherapy [10] [11] [12]. Nevertheless, prophylactic stenting for patients with colonic malignancy without evidence of symptomatic obstruction is strongly discouraged because of the potential risks associated with colonic stenting.

The only absolute contraindication for colonic stenting is perforation. In addition, colonic stenting is less successful in patients with peritoneal metastases and tumors close to the anal verge (< 5 cm), the latter because of tenesmus [13] [14] [15]. There is no high quality literature to grade the severity of the obstruction. A Japanese group developed the ColoRectal Obstruction Scoring System (CROSS) aimed at aiding the evaluation of severity of colonic obstruction [16]. Studies comparing the outcomes of total and subtotal obstruction used different definitions (e. g. based on symptoms, radiologic, or endoscopic findings) and reported inconsistent outcomes. Increasing age and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification ≥ III do not affect stenting outcome (i. e., clinical success and complications) in several observational studies [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22], although these are well-known risk factors for postoperative mortality after surgical treatment of large-bowel obstruction [23] [24] [25].

When malignant colonic obstruction is suspected, contrast-enhanced CT imaging is recommended because it can diagnose obstruction (sensitivity 96 %, specificity 93 %), define the level of the stenosis in 94 % of cases, accurately identify the etiology in 81 % of cases, and provide correct local and distal staging in the majority of patients [5] [26]. When CT is inconclusive about the etiology of the obstructing lesion, colonoscopy may be helpful to evaluate the exact cause of the stenosis.

Regarding cecal pneumatosis on CT, one small retrospective study of 10 patients has been published concluding that despite CT findings of cecal pneumatosis, the cecum was deemed to be viable intraoperatively in all patients [27]. The authors concluded that cecal pneumatosis alone is not a reliable predictor of cecal ischemia in patients presenting with acute malignant large-bowel obstruction and that colonic stenting should not be precluded in these patients. However, as literature is very scarce on this subject, no recommendations regarding cecal pneumatosis and colonic stenting can be made.

The risk of proximal neoplasia increases in the presence of distal lesions. European studies, including three that are population-based, show that synchronous colorectal tumors occur in 3 % – 4 % of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer [28] [29] [30] [31]. Since 2014, several studies have assessed preoperative through-the-stent colonoscopy in patients with stenosing colorectal cancer [32] [33] [34] [35]. The majority of patients underwent bowel cleansing with polyethylene glycol [33] [34]. Completed preoperative colonoscopy rates ranged from 62.5 % to 96.6 % [32] [33] [34], with the lowest rate increasing to 87.5 % when an additional gastroscope was used [34]. Incomplete colonoscopy was mostly related to the degree of stent expansion. Synchronous colorectal cancers were diagnosed in 0 % – 17.9 % of cases and adenomatous lesions in 29.4 % – 60.7 % [32] [33] [34]. One study described a patient having subclinical subdiaphragmatic free air (2.1 %) and eight having self-limited minor bleeding (16.6 %) after the procedure [34].

CT colonography is at least as effective as colonoscopy in identifying colonic lesions (sensitivity 97.56 % vs. 92.68 %, negative predictive value 93.75 % vs. 83.3 %), more frequently allowing complete colon visualization (100 % vs. 62 %) [36]. However, the clinical impact of CT colonography in stenosing colorectal cancer is debatable, as it correctly changes the primary surgical plan in only 1.9 % of patients. Moreover, there is a risk of false-positive results [37]. Positron emission tomography (PET)/CT has a high sensitivity and negative predictive value in recognizing synchronous lesions in patients with obstructive colorectal cancer. It would thus allow definition of the correct surgical plan [38] [39] [40], although it is infrequently used in clinical practice.

In general, exploration of the remaining colon is advisable in patients with distal stenosing colorectal cancer, but no studies have specifically evaluated its ideal timing. Colon exploration may be performed either before or no more than 6 months after alleviation of the colonic obstruction. Both conventional colonoscopy and CT colonography are feasible, but some risk of complications and potential spread of tumor cells through endoscopic manipulation may be related to preoperative colonoscopy.

When a malignancy is suspected after diagnostic studies, a small number of patients will have a benign cause of obstruction. Two RCTs comparing SEMS as a bridge to surgery versus emergency surgery in patients with left-sided malignant obstruction reported benign obstructive lesions in 4.6 % (3/65) [41] and 8.2 % (8/98) [42] of the randomized patients. These benign colonic lesions that mimic malignancy are usually due to diverticular disease. Further evidence of the difficulty of this distinction is also reflected by a systematic review, showing a 2.1 % prevalence of underlying adenocarcinoma of the colon in 771 patients in whom acute diverticulitis was diagnosed through CT imaging [43]. Stent placement in active diverticular inflammation is associated with a risk of perforation and should therefore be avoided [44]. Additionally, pathological confirmation of malignancy before emergency stent placement is often not feasible and is not required prior to colonic stenting. However, endoscopic biopsy for confirmation of malignancy should preferably be obtained during the stent placement procedure, as it may modify the further management of the stented patient [45] [46] [47]. In cases where pathology shows benign disease, one has to consider the possibility of sampling error. Otherwise, early resection of a suspected benign obstruction might be indicated.

Symptomatic bowel obstruction is a relative contraindication to oral bowel cleansing. The majority of studies do not report on performance of bowel preparation or cleansing enemas before stent placement. Among studies published since 2014, use of a cleansing enema before stent placement was mentioned in only 16.4 %, and in 1.2 % oral bowel preparation was performed according to tolerance or in the circumstances of incomplete obstruction. A post hoc analysis of a prospective multicenter study showed that preparation with a cleansing enema facilitated stent placement, resulting in slightly fewer procedures exceeding a procedure time beyond the 75th percentile (23.8 % vs. 28.9 %, odds ratio [OR] 0.5, P < 0.01) [48].

Antibiotic prophylaxis before colonic stenting in patients with malignant colonic obstruction is not indicated because the risk of fever and bacteremia after stent insertion is very low. One prospective study analyzed 64 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent a stent procedure [49]. Four of 64 patients (6.3 %) had a positive post-stenting blood culture and none of the patients developed symptoms of infection within 48 hours following stent placement. Prolonged procedure time was associated with transient bacteremia (36 vs. 16 minutes, P < 0.01). One other retrospective series of 233 patients undergoing colonic stenting for malignant obstruction described that blood cultures had been drawn for unspecified reasons in 30 patients within 2 weeks after stent placement, showing bacteremia/fever in seven patients (3 %), which was reported as a minor complication [21]. A propensity score-matched analysis of prophylactic antibiotics for colonic stenting showed no significant differences in post-SEMS insertion infectious complications, such as fever, bacteremia, and systemic inflammatory response syndrome [50].

Several noncomparative studies addressed the learning curve of single endoscopists performing colonic stenting [22] [51] [52] [53] [54]. In most of these studies, it was mentioned that the endoscopists were experienced in colonoscopy. Two studies showed an increase in technical success and a decrease in the number of stents used per procedure after performance of at least 20 procedures [51] [52]. Two other retrospective series have shown that operator experience affects stenting outcome. The first reported significantly higher technical and clinical success rates when the stent was inserted by an operator who had performed at least 10 colonic stent procedures [22]. The second showed a significantly increased immediate perforation rate when colonic stent placement was performed by endoscopists inexperienced in pancreaticobiliary endoscopy [21]. The authors of the latter article explained the lower immediate perforation rate by the skills that therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) endoscopists have in traversing complex strictures, understanding fluoroscopy, and deploying stents [21]. Based on the current data, it is difficult to recommend a specific minimum number of performed stent placements. As experience is a significant predictor of success, colonic stent placements should be performed or directly supervised by a competent interventional endoscopist.

Technical considerations of colonic stenting

Colonic stenting can be performed using either the through-the-scope (TTS) or the over-the-[guide]wire (OTW) technique. The OTW technique is performed using fluoroscopic guidance with or without tandem endoscopic monitoring. Purely radiologic stent placement is performed by advancing the stent deployment system over a stiff guidewire, and technical and clinical success rates of 83 % – 100 % and 77 % – 100 % have been reported in observational studies [55] [56] [57] [58] [59] [60] [61]. Retrospective studies that compared endoscopy combined with fluoroscopic guidance versus solely radiography for stent placement show comparable success rates, although some studies show a trend towards higher technical success when either the endoscopic or the combined technique is used compared to solely radiography [22] [48] [62] [63] [64] [65] [66] [67].

Although based on low quality evidence, there are strong indications that stricture dilation either just before or after colonic stent placement adversely affects the clinical outcome and particularly increases the risk of colonic perforation [13] [18] [21] [67] [68]. Pooled analyses of mainly retrospective data from series that mostly included patients with malignant strictures, also revealed an increased risk of perforation after stricture dilation [63] [69] [70]. In addition, no significant effects of balloon dilation on technical success [48] [67] and clinical success [67] were observed.

A meta-analysis from 2019, including one RCT, seven prospective observational studies, and two retrospective studies, compared covered and uncovered SEMSs either as a bridge to surgery in the curative setting or as palliative treatment. Uncovered SEMSs were associated with fewer complications (risk ratio [RR] 0.57), including less tumor overgrowth (RR 0.29) and SEMS migration (RR 0.29), longer SEMS patency (mean duration 18 months), and fewer re-insertions (RR 0.38), although the risk of tumor ingrowth was higher (RR 4.53) [71]. Technical and clinical success did not differ. These observations confirm the results of two earlier meta-analyses, showing less migration but more tumor ingrowth for uncovered SEMS [72] [73]. In the palliative setting, migration can be treated with stent replacement or stent-in-stent techniques [74] [75]. However, in bridge-to-surgery patients, most patients with stent migration are treated with earlier surgery.

Evidence is too limited to recommend on the ideal stent diameter. Comparisons of SEMSs with several diameters did not show any differences in technical success, clinical success, or adverse events including perforation [22] [76] [77] [78] [79]. Smaller-caliber stents were considered to produce less mechanical stress, with a potentially decreased perforation rate [76] [79]. However, a few studies have suggested an association between small-diameter stents (< 24 mm) and adverse events, in particular stent migration [21] [80] [81] [82].

Conflicting results regarding ideal stent length have been reported [13] [17] [22] [48] [60] [76] [83] [84] [85] [86]. Longer stents may allow for better conformability to tumor stricture, especially when located in flexures. Distal stent markers should be located proximal to the obstruction in anticipation of stent foreshortening. It is recommended to use a stent that is long enough to bridge the stenosis and to extend at least 1.5 – 2 cm on each side of the lesion, taking into account the degree of shortening after stent deployment.

Several studies have shown no differences in efficacy and safety between different stent designs [58] [75] [87] [88] [89].

Clinical indication: colonic stenting as a bridge to elective surgery

Interpretation of the literature on stenting as a bridge to surgery can be challenging. There are a large number of retrospective and cohort studies with conflicting results, some of which have been included in meta-analyses. Most randomized trials were published almost a decade ago and were relatively small [41] [42] [90] [91] [92] [93] [94] [95]. The (long-term) results of the two largest and recently completed trials (CREST and ESCO) are becoming available [94] [96].

Details of the patient populations often lack clear definitions and there are heterogeneities of interventions and study populations. These include stage and curability of the patients’ disease, severity of obstruction based on both clinical symptoms and imaging findings, and type of emergency surgery performed. Concerning the latter issue, creation of only a decompressing stoma in the emergency setting is also a bridging technique similar to colonic stenting, and it has a different risk profile compared with emergency resection. Treatment decisions are highly dependent on treatment intent, but many studies on stenting as bridge to surgery mix palliative and curative cases. Furthermore, the intention of treatment is often difficult to determine in the emergency setting, and the effectiveness of multimodality treatment in stage IV disease is improving.

Most of the literature concerns left-sided obstructing colon cancer excluding (distal) rectal cancers, but similar clinical issues have been raised regarding right-sided malignant obstruction proximal to the splenic flexure [97] [98] [99].

Sensitivity analysis has shown that experience and volume might influence long-term outcome, based on meta-analyses of studies with technical success rates < 90 % versus ≥ 90 %, and studies including < 40 versus ≥ 40 SEMS cases [100]. Therefore, unit experience and expertise may also influence treatment decisions.

The literature shows technical and clinical failure rates of up to 25 % for colonic stenting, influenced by expertise, technique, and location of the obstruction (i. e., colonic/sigmoid flexures) [76] [101] [102] [103] [104] [105] [106]. Considering short-term outcomes, meta-analyses have shown lower morbidity rates after stenting as a bridge to surgery than emergency surgery [107] [108], similar postoperative mortality rates [107], and a higher proportion of primary anastomoses [108].

There are few studies available on the oncological implications of stent-related perforation. These reports mostly consider clinically overt perforations. In a subgroup analysis of the Dutch Stent-in 2 trial, Sloothaak et al. demonstrated an increased recurrence risk in patients with stent-related perforation (clinically overt and occult, n = 6) compared to patients without a stent-related perforation [109]. Similar comparisons of patients with versus without a stent-related perforation were performed in a Dutch population-based study (17 perforations) showing, respectively, a 3-year locoregional recurrence of 18 % versus 11 % (P = 0.43), 3-year disease-free survival of 49 % versus 60 % (P = 0.72), and 3-year overall survival of 61 % and 75 % (P = 0.53) [110]. Currently available data are still underpowered but suggest a negative impact of stent-related perforation on oncological outcomes. The initial RCTs showed relatively high rates of bowel perforation, which led to premature termination of two trials [41] [42]. More recent trials have shown perforation rates below 10 % [94]. Sensitivity analyses revealed that 3-year overall survival was significantly better in studies with a perforation rate less than 8 % compared to those with 8 % or higher [100]. It has been argued that oncologic outcome after perforations might be different depending on the cause of the perforation or the presence of symptoms (e. g. guidewire- or stent expansion-related, clinically silent or overt), but too few data are available to confirm this. Other similar factors, such as forceful stent expansion of the tumor, could introduce cancer cells into vessels, thereby facilitating dissemination [111]. Furthermore, colonic stenting may promote perineural invasion as detected in resected specimens, albeit not translating into poorer oncologic outcomes [112] [113]. So far, there are insufficient data to support these theories and findings.

A recent meta-analysis showed higher overall recurrence (37.0 % vs. 25.9 %; RR 1.425, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.002 – 2.028; P = 0.049) and systemic recurrence (RR 1.627, 95 %CI 1.009 – 2.621, P = 0.046) in the colonic stenting group. Nevertheless, this did not translate into significantly worse 3-year disease-free survival or 3-year overall survival [107]. These results were confirmed by another meta-analysis that showed no differences in 5-year disease-free survival and 5-year overall survival [100]. Moreover, unpublished data related to the ESCO study and the CREST study (A. Arezzo and J. Hill, Guideline discussion, Amsterdam, 3 September 2019) show similar overall, systemic, and local recurrences for both groups.

Long-term advantages of colonic stenting over emergency resection include a lower permanent stoma risk and higher primary anastomosis rates [100] [110]. Considering the outcome measures of hospital stay and quality of life, the data are sparse and inconclusive.

For individual patients, decision making might be influenced by the relative importance of particular end points. For a young fit patient, the chance of stoma reversal in the long run is likely to be high [110], while a potentially higher risk of distant recurrence might result in a preference for emergency resection. For elderly patients, short-term outcomes might be more important, especially the lower risk of complications and lower chance of a stoma.

As an alternative to colonic decompression, insertion of a transanal decompression tube (TDT) is only rarely done, with most case series being performed in south-east Asian countries. A recent meta-analysis on TDT versus colonic stenting as a bridge to surgery reported lower technical success, lower clinical success, fewer primary tumor resections, fewer primary anastomoses, and more stomas for TDT than colonic stenting [114]. Therefore, ESGE does not recommend TDT placement over colonic stent placement.

[Table 1] summarizes the high quality evidence from meta-analyses regarding the short-term outcomes of SEMS placement as a bridge to surgery versus emergency surgery, and [Table 2] summarizes the oncological outcomes.

Table 1 Meta-analyses of short-term outcomes of self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) placement as a bridge to elective surgery in patients with malignant colonic obstruction.

First author, year	Study population	Results	Study design Level of evidence
Foo, 2019 [107]	Patients with acute left-sided malignant colonic obstruction 7 RCTs Preoperative SEMS (n = 222) Emergency surgery (n = 226)	SEMS vs. emergency surgery: Lower overall complication risk (RR 0.605, 95 %CI 0.382 – 0.958) No significant difference in 30-day mortality (RR 0.963, 95 %CI 0.468 – 1.982)	Meta-analysis of RCTs High quality evidence
Yang, 2018 [108]	Patients with acute left-sided obstructive colorectal cancer 8 RCTs Preoperative SEMS (n = 251) Emergency surgery (n = 246)	SEMS vs. emergency surgery: Lower direct stoma rate (OR 0.46, 95 %CI 0.30 – 0.70) Higher successful primary anastomosis rate (OR 2.29, 95 %CI 1.52 – 3.45) Fewer post-procedural complications (OR 0.39, 95 %CI 0.18 – 0.82) Fewer wound infections (OR 0.49, 95 %CI 0.27 – 0.87)	Meta-analysis of RCTs High quality evidence
Allievi, 2017 [115]	Patients with left-sided malignant colorectal obstruction 7 RCTs Preoperative SEMS (n = 222) Emergency surgery (n = 226)	SEMS vs. emergency surgery: Fewer postoperative complications (RR 0.6, 95 %CI 0.38 – 0.96) Fewer stomas (RR 0.64, 95 %CI 0.51 – 0.80) No significant difference in primary anastomosis rate (RR 1.20, 95 %CI 0.95 – 1.52) No significant difference in anastomotic leakages (RR 0.93, 95 %CI 0.45 – 1.92) No significant difference in in-hospital mortality (RR 0.98, 95 %CI 0.53 – 1.82)	Meta-analysis of RCTs High quality evidence
Arezzo, 2017 [116]	Patients with left-sided malignant colonic obstruction 8 RCTs Preoperative SEMS (n = 251) Emergency surgery (n = 246)	SEMS vs. emergency surgery: Lower overall morbidity rate (RR 0.59, 95 %CI 0.38 – 0.93) Fewer temporary stomas (RR 0.67, 95 %CI 0.54 – 0.83) Higher primary anastomosis rate (RR 1.29, 95 %CI 1.01 – 1.66) No significant difference in overall mortality < 60 days after surgery (RR 0.98, 95 %CI 0.53 – 1.82)	Meta-analysis of RCTs High quality evidence
Wang, 2017 [117]	Patients with left-sided colorectal cancer with malignant obstruction 9 RCTs Preoperative SEMS (n = 281) Emergency surgery (n = 313)	SEMS vs. emergency surgery: Higher one-stage anastomosis rate (OR 2.56, 95 %CI 1.79 – 3.66, P < 0.0001) No significant difference in anastomotic leakages (OR 1.12, 95 %CI 0.55 – 2.30, P = 0.75) Lower postoperative mortality rate (OR 0.51, 95 %CI 0.26 – 0.98, P = 0.04) Fewer minor complications (OR 0.65, 95 %CI 0.45 – 0.93, P = 0.02)	Meta-analysis of RCTs High quality evidence
Huang, 2014 [118]	Patients with acute left-sided malignant colonic obstruction 7 RCTs Preoperative SEMS (n = 195) Emergency surgery (n = 187)	SEMS vs. emergency surgery: Higher primary anastomosis rate (OR 2.01, 95 %CI 1.21 – 3.31) Lower overall complication rate (OR 0.30, 95 %CI 0.11 – 0.86) Fewer wound infections (OR 0.31, 95 %CI 0.14 – 0.68) No significant difference in anastomotic leakage rate (OR 0.74, 95 %CI 0.33 – 1.67) No significant difference in mortality (OR 0.88, 95 %CI 0.40 – 1.96)	Meta-analysis of RCTs High quality evidence
Zhao, 2014 [119]	Patients with left-sided malignant colonic obstruction 6 RCTs Preoperative SEMS (n = 136) Emergency surgery (n = 137)	SEMS vs. emergency surgery: Lower overall colostomy rate (RR 0.77, 95 %CI 0.61 – 0.96, P = 0.02) Fewer surgical site infections (RR 0.51, 95 %CI 0.28 – 0.92, P = 0.03) No significant difference in overall complication rate (RR 0.58, 95 %CI 0.30 – 1.10, P = 0.09) No significant difference in primary anastomosis rate (RR 1.29, 95 %CI 0.86 – 1.94, P = 0.22) No significant difference in anastomotic leakage rate (RR 0.73, 95 %CI 0.32 – 1.71, P = 0.47) No significant difference in operation-related mortality (NA)	Meta-analysis of RCTs High quality evidence

CI, confidence interval; NA, not available; OR, odds ratio; RCT, randomized controlled trial; RR, risk ratio; SEMS, self-expandable metal stent.

Table 2 Oncological outcome of self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) placement versus emergency surgery in patients with malignant colonic obstruction.

First author, year	Study population	Results	Study design Level of evidence
Foo, 2019 [107]	Patients with acute left-sided malignant colonic obstruction 7 RCTs Preoperative SEMS (n = 222) Emergency surgery (n = 226)	SEMS vs. emergency surgery: Higher overall recurrence rate (RR 1.425, 95 %CI 1.002 – 2.028) Higher systemic recurrence rate (RR 1.627, 95 %CI 1.009 – 2.621) No significant difference in locoregional recurrence (RR 1.110, 95 %CI 0.593 – 2.078) No significant difference in 3-year disease-free survival (OR 1.429, 95 %CI 0.801 – 2.550) No significant difference in 3-year overall survival (OR 1.659, 95 %CI 0.930 – 2.962)	Meta-analysis of RCTs High quality evidence
Amelung, 2018 [100]	Patients with acute left-sided malignant colonic obstruction 5 RCTs, 4 prospective nonrandomized comparative studies, 12 retrospective comparative studies Preoperative SEMS (n = 938) Emergency surgery (n = 981)	SEMS vs. emergency surgery: No significant difference in locoregional recurrence (OR 1.32, 95 %CI 0.78 – 2.23) No significant difference in overall recurrence (OR 1.06, 95 %CI 0.76 – 1.47) No significant difference in 3-year disease-free survival (OR 0.96, 95 %CI 0.73 – 1.26) and 5-year disease-free survival (OR 0.86, 95 %CI 0.54 – 1.36) No significant difference in 3-year overall survival (OR 0.85, 95 %CI 0.68 – 1.08) and 5-year overall survival (OR 1.04, 95 %CI 0.68 – 1.57)	Meta-analysis Moderate quality evidence
Yang, 2018 [108]	Patients with acute left-sided obstructive colorectal cancer 8 RCTs Preoperative SEMS (n = 251) Emergency surgery (n = 246)	SEMS vs. emergency surgery: Higher odds of tumor recurrence (OR 1.79, 95 %CI 1.09 – 2.93)	Meta-analysis of RCTs High quality evidence
Arezzo, 2017 [116]	Patients with left-sided malignant colonic obstruction 8 RCTs Preoperative SEMS (n = 251) Emergency surgery (n = 246)	SEMS vs. emergency surgery: No significant difference in relative risk of tumor recurrence (RR 1.80, 95 %CI 0.91 – 3.54)	Meta-analysis of RCTs High quality evidence
Arezzo, 2017 [94]	Patients with acute symptomatic malignant left-sided large-bowel obstruction (splenic flexure to 15 cm from anal margin as diagnosed by CT imaging) (n = 115) SEMS as bridge to surgery (n = 56) Emergency surgery (n = 59)	Recurrence at median follow-up of 36 months (P = 0.685) SEMS 30.3 % Surgery 33.9 % No significant difference in overall survival (P = 0.998) and progression-free survival (P = 0.893)	RCT High quality evidence
Ceresoli, 2017 [120]	Patients with malignant left-sided colonic obstruction 5 RCTs, 3 prospective nonrandomized comparative studies, 9 retrospective comparative studies Preoperative SEMS (n = 688) Emergency surgery (n = 655)	SEMS vs. emergency surgery: No significant difference in overall recurrence (RR 1.11, 95 %CI 0.84 – 1.47, P = 0.47) No significant difference in local recurrence (RR 1.41, 95 %CI 0.89 – 2.23, P = 0.14) No significant difference in 3-year recurrence (RR 1.15, 95 %CI 0.95 – 1.39, P = 0.14) No significant difference in 5-year recurrence (RR 1.05, 95 %CI 0.88 – 1.25, P = 0.59) No significant difference in 3-year mortality (RR 0.90, 95 %CI 0.73 – 1.12, P = 0.34) No significant difference in 5-year mortality (RR 1.00, 95 %CI 0.82 – 1.22, P = 0.99)	Meta-analysis Moderate quality evidence
Matsuda, 2015 [121]	Patients with malignant large-bowel obstruction 11 studies of which 2 RCTs, 2 prospective nonrandomized comparative studies, 7 retrospective comparative studies Preoperative SEMS (n = 432) Emergency surgery (n = 704)	SEMS vs. emergency surgery: No significant difference in overall survival (RR 0.95, 95 %CI 0.75 – 1.21, P = 0.66) No significant difference in disease-free survival (RR 1.06, 95 %CI 0.91 – 1.24, P = 0.43) No significant difference in recurrence (RR 1.13, 95 %CI 0.82 – 1.54, P = 0.46)	Meta-analysis Moderate quality evidence
Sloothaak, 2014 [109]	Patients with acute left-sided malignant colonic obstruction (n = 98) SEMS as bridge to surgery (n = 47) Emergency surgery (n = 51)	SEMS vs. emergency surgery: Median (range) follow-up: 41 (19 – 55) vs. 45 (35 – 60) months Higher 5-year overall recurrence rate (P = 0.027) No significant difference in locoregional recurrence rate (P = 0.052) Patients with a stent perforation: n = 6 Cumulative incidence of overall recurrences (P < 0.01): Patients with stent perforation: 83 % (95 %CI 58 % – 100 %) Nonperforated stent patients: 34 % (95 %CI 18 % – 65 %) Emergency surgery: 26 % (95 %CI 14 % – 47 %) 5-year cumulative incidence of locoregional recurrences (P = 0.053): Patients with stent perforation: 50 % (95 %CI 22 % – 100 %) Nonperforated stent patients: 10 % (95 %CI 3 % – 41 %)	Follow-up data of RCT [31] Low quality evidence

CI, confidence interval; OR, odds ratio; RCT, randomized controlled trial; RR, risk ratio; SEMS, self-expandable metal stent.

A post hoc evaluation of a prospective observational study revealed that stricture length of at least 5 cm was associated with technical difficulty in colonic stenting [48], whereas another retrospective study comparing strictures up to 4 cm and longer than 4 cm revealed no significant differences in technical success, clinical success, and re-obstruction [122]. Boyle et al. showed that shorter strictures and wider angulation distal to the obstruction were significantly associated with successful deployment and clinical decompression [123]. Furthermore, perforation was associated with longer strictures. In addition, malignant strictures had a shorter median length compared to strictures due to diverticular disease or external compression (40 vs. 65 mm, P < 0.001). Notably, a meta-analysis showed that perforation rates were significantly higher for benign than for malignant strictures (18.4 % versus 7.5 %) [70].

Based on these findings, care should be taken when stenting a relatively long stricture as this might be caused by a benign lesion (e. g. diverticulitis), with a potentially higher risk of perforation. Furthermore, locally advanced tumors (cT4] might have an indication for induction therapy, which might be another argument for refraining from colonic stenting in large bulky lesions.

The time interval for surgery after colonic stenting has to be discussed and analyzed depending on the balance between stent-related adverse events (reduced by a short interval) and surgical outcomes (improved by a longer delay). No prospective comparative data are available on the impact of this period (short vs. long) for the surgery, complications, and overall or disease-free survival.

In a meta-analysis of RCTs that compared colonic stenting as a bridge to surgery versus emergency surgery, the time intervals in the colonic stenting arms ranged from 3 days to 4 weeks [107]. In recently published, large prospective studies, most of the stent-related complications occurred within 7 days [105] [124]. Conflicting data are noted in retrospective studies regarding the association between this interval and postoperative complications or disease-free recurrence and survival [78] [125] [126] [127] [128] [129] [130]. The risk of anastomotic leakage was significantly reduced when surgery was delayed for 10 days or longer in a retrospective analysis [130]. In another study, a cutoff value of 15 days was proposed to significantly reduce the risk of postoperative complications (OR for an interval ≤ 15 days, 13.0, 95 %CI 1.0 – 167.0, area under the curve 0.793) [78]. Considering risk of recurrence, one study reported that a period ≥ 18 days was shown to be an independent risk factor (OR 5.1, 95 %CI 1.6 – 15.8, P = 0.005) [129]. Nevertheless, other studies did not find any significant impact of time interval on outcome [127] [128].

Based on these data and the clinical experience of experts, it seems that a certain period of waiting after colonic stenting might be beneficial in order to optimize the patient’s clinical condition, and thereby reduce the risks of subsequent surgical resection. Since stent perforation often occurs very early, it seems that reducing the interval to resection would not prevent this complication. In the absence of good quality evidence, the time interval before surgery should be dictated by optimization of nutritional status and adequate management of co-morbidities; this may require a few weeks.

There is a tendency towards induction chemotherapy in locally advanced colon cancer. The FOXTROT trial has recently been presented at an American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting [131], and showed a significant decrease in R1 resection rate and a nonsignificant trend towards better oncological outcome at 2 years. However, only a few patients in this trial underwent colonic stenting as a bridge to surgery, and separate data are not (yet) available. Other studies of chemotherapy during the bridging interval in the curative setting were not identified. Therefore, no recommendation could be formulated.

Four retrospective studies have been published regarding the role of a decompressing stoma as bridge to elective surgery compared to colonic stenting for left-sided colon cancer [102] [132] [133] [134]. In two of these studies, propensity scores were used to correct for baseline differences [102] [132].

Three of the four studies report a larger total number of interventions for decompressing stoma construction than for colonic stenting [132] [133] [134]. In addition, patients with decompressing stoma had more primary anastomoses constructed [102] [132] and had more stomas in situ after resection [132] [134]. Conflicting results on morbidity have been published. Lower major morbidity rates have been reported for decompressing stoma with no significant differences in total complication rate [132] [134], although others reported higher complication rates for decompressing stoma [102]. In addition, the permanent stoma rate did not differ between the two bridge-to-surgery techniques [102] [132] [134]. Locoregional recurrence [132], disease-free survival [102] [132] [134], and overall survival [132] [134] were similar. However, in one study, decompressing stoma showed better overall survival than colonic stenting, suggesting an important role for noncancer-related deaths [102].

Based on the currently available literature, construction of a stoma seems a valid alternative for decompressing the colon as a bridge to surgery. This is especially relevant in circumstances where sufficient experience with colonic stenting is not available, the patient does not seem to be a good candidate for colonic stenting (e. g. long stenosis or locally advanced disease that requires induction therapy), or if colonic stent placement technically failed. A decompressing stoma also allows patients to recover with a higher chance of a primary anastomosis [102] [132]. The disadvantage is that all patients will have a stoma for a certain period of time, which often requires a third intervention to restore continuity. The lack of good quality data on these two interventions suggests the need for a randomized trial.

Malignant obstruction of the proximal colon

Several retrospective series have shown that colonic stenting may be successful in malignant obstruction of the proximal colon (MOPC) (i. e., proximal to the splenic flexure) [13] [22] [135] [136] [137] [138]. Studies comparing the technical success rates between stent placement in right-sided and left-sided colon cancers show conflicting results with a tendency to lower technical success rates in the right-sided colon [13] [22] [53] [122] [135] [139]. A post-hoc analysis of a prospective multicenter study demonstrated longer procedure times for stents placed in the right-sided colon [48], with other studies showing similar clinical success, adverse event, and re-intervention rates, as well as similar 5-year overall and disease-free survival when compared to the left-sided colon [13] [22] [97] [99] [135] [136] [137] [138] [140].

Comparing with emergency surgery, a recent systematic review showed lower mortality (0 % vs. 10.8 %, P = 0.009), less major morbidity (0.8 % vs 23.9 %, P = 0.049), and lower risk of anastomotic leakage (0 % vs. 9.1 %) for colonic stenting in patients with MOPC [99].

Regarding the palliative setting, two retrospective series including both palliative and curative patients presented conflicting data [98] [141]. The first study showed fewer early complications (7.2 % versus 30.5 %, P = 0.003) and shorter hospital stay (3.5 vs. 8 days, P < 0.001], but lower clinical success (78 % vs. 100 %, P < 0.001) and lower patency (73.9 % vs. 94.4 %, P = 0.02) for colonic stenting compared to emergency surgery in MOPC [141]. The second study was not able to find any differences between matched colonic stenting and primary surgery patients regarding morbidity, mortality, or hospital stay, although temporary stoma rate was lower in the stent group (0 % vs. 21.1 %, P = 0.04) [98]. In general, based on low quality evidence, a trend towards lower morbidity and mortality exists for MOPC patients treated with colonic stenting compared to emergency surgery. However, it should be mentioned that stenting of the right-sided colon might be challenging and probably requires more experience.

Clinical indication: palliative colonic stenting

Four systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses, including randomized and nonrandomized comparative studies, have compared colonic stenting and surgery for palliation of malignant colonic obstruction [142] [143] [144] [145]. The technical success of stent placement ranged from 88 % to 100 %, while the initial clinical relief of obstruction was significantly higher after palliative surgery compared to colonic stenting (96 % vs. 86.1 %, P = 0.02) [143]. Conflicting results have been reported regarding short-term mortality, with lower 30-day mortality for colonic stenting in two meta-analyses [144] [145] and no significant differences found in the other studies [142] [143]. No significant differences in overall morbidity were found between the stent group and the surgery group [143] [145], although two meta-analyses revealed more short-term complications in the palliative surgery group, while late complications were more frequent in the stent group [144] [145]. No significant differences in morbidity were found when comparing colonic stenting and decompressing stoma in the palliative setting [146].

Placement of a colonic stent was significantly associated with shorter hospitalization and a lower intensive care unit admission rate [142] [143] [145] [147], while permitting a shorter time to initiation of chemotherapy [145] [148]. Stenting also resulted in shorter hospital stay when compared to decompressing stoma in the palliative setting (OR 0.50, 95 %CI 0.26 – 0.97, P = 0.04) [146]. Surgical stoma formation was significantly lower after palliative colonic stenting compared with emergency surgery [143] [144] [145].

In an RCT by Young et al. [147], the surgery group had significantly reduced quality of life if compared with the stent group from baseline to 1 and 2 weeks (P = 0.001 and P = 0.012, respectively), and from baseline to 12 months (P = 0.01]. A post hoc analysis of the same RCT revealed lower total costs for stenting than for surgery [149].

A post hoc analysis of a prospective multicenter study and several retrospective studies showed lower technical success [48] [150] and an increased complication rate [151] [152] for colonic stenting in patients with peritoneal metastases. Another series, that focused on the outcomes of secondary stent insertion after initial stent failure, reported a significantly decreased stent patency in the setting of peritoneal metastases (118 days vs. 361 days) [13].

It has been speculated that chemotherapy during colonic stenting might induce stent-related complications, in particular perforation. In a retrospective study of 38 patients evaluating the safety and efficacy of chemotherapy following palliative colonic stenting [153], stenting showed a 30-day complication rate of 2.5 %, and the toxicity of antiangiogenic drugs was not enhanced by stent insertion. The risk of perforation was 8 % and occurred from 2 to 15 months after stent insertion.

In a retrospective series of 87 patients who received either chemotherapy without bevacizumab (n = 47), or chemotherapy with bevacizumab (n = 10), or no chemotherapy (n = 30), overall perforation risk was 10 % [154]. The risk of perforation was 13 % for patients who did not receive chemotherapy, 6 % for patients who did receive chemotherapy but no bevacizumab, and 20 % for patients who received chemotherapy and bevacizumab, suggesting a higher perforation risk for patients who received bevacizumab. In a series of 353 patients with stage IV colon cancer, Park et al. found similar perforation rates in stent patients with bevacizumab (n = 96) and without bevacizumab (n = 257), namely 7.3 % and 7.0 % (P = 0.93), respectively. Moreover, chemotherapy was not a risk factor for complications in patients treated with colonic stenting, and chemotherapy significantly decreased the risk of mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 0.464, 95 %CI 0.315 – 0.683, P < 0.001) [151].

In a series of 1008 patients who received bevacizumab for metastatic colorectal cancer, the risk of complications necessitating surgery was 5.9 %. In patients already receiving bevacizumab, stent insertion was a significant risk factor for complications requiring surgery (HR 5.687, 95 %CI 2.372 – 13.637, P < 0.001) [155].

Relief of large-bowel obstruction caused by extracolonic malignancy (ECM) by means of colonic stenting has been studied mainly retrospectively. Technical and clinical success rates of stenting for ECM have been reported with ranges 67 % – 96 % and 20 % – 96 %, respectively [156] [157] [158] [159] [160] [161]. These are considered inferior to those reported for stenting of primary colonic cancer, although conflicting results have been published [13] [17] [21] [81] [150] [162] [163] [164]. In comparison to emergency decompressive surgery, colonic stenting for ECM has shown significantly fewer complications [158].

Peritoneal metastasis as the cause of ECM has been associated with lower technical and clinical success rates [67] [150] [152] and more adverse events [67]. However, a few studies revealed higher delayed perforation rates in patients without peritoneal metastases [77] [152]. In some studies, tumor origin had no impact on technical success [22] [53] [86], clinical success [22] [86], adverse events [17] [22] [86], early and delayed perforation, nor 30-day mortality after stent placement [77] [123]. Altogether, palliative stenting of ECM is to be considered in order to avoid decompressing surgery in these patients because of the high risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality [157] [159] [160] [162].

Adverse events related to colonic stenting

Colonic stent placement in patients with malignant large-bowel obstruction is associated with potential adverse events. Overall complication rates for colonic stenting commonly approach 20 % – 30 % in case series, with higher rates reported in RCTs, although the 30-day stent-related mortality is less than 4 % [144]. The main complications include perforation, stent failure, migration, and re-obstruction. Delayed complications occur in up to 20 % of patients, most commonly stent malfunction or perforation [17] [65] [76] [103] [105] [145] [165] [166] [167] [168] [169] [170] [171] [172] [173] [174] [175] [176]. For purely palliative indications, a meta-analysis of 410 patients reported short-term and long-term complication rates of 26.2 % and 16.1 %, respectively [142]. Other less common complications include pain (range 0 % – 7 %), bleeding (range 0 % – 6 %) [13] [18] [42] [101] [139] [151] [171] [177], tenesmus (up to 22 %, related to rectal SEMS), fever, incontinence, and fistula [22] [76] [166] [177] [178] [179].

Stent-related perforation may result from guidewire or catheter malpositioning, stricture dilation, stent-induced perforation, and proximal colonic distension because of inadequate colonic decompression or excessive air insufflation [180]. Reported rates of clinically evident early and late perforation range from 0 % to 12 % [17] [76] [77] [83] [86] [101] [105] [110] [124] [139] [143] [147] [151] [168] [169] [171] [172] [173] [175] [176] [181] [182] [183] [184] [185] [186] [187] [188] [189]. A meta-analysis of 4086 patients reported an overall perforation rate of 7.4 % [70]. In patients receiving stents as a bridge to surgery, “silent” microperforations may be identified in up to 14 % – 20 %, and pathologists should actively search for these in resection specimens [102] [103] [105] [115] [168] [189] [190] [191]. Clinically symptomatic stent-related perforation has been associated with a mortality rate of 50 % [17] [77] [81] [151] [168] [192] [193] [194] [195], and there are indications that perforation compromises oncological outcomes, although most studies were restricted by low numbers of events [103] [109] [112] [143] [181]. Intraprocedural and post-stenting stricture dilation, and longer, angulated, and diverticular strictures have been identified as risk factors for perforation [18] [21] [44] [63] [67] [70] [77] [81] [123] [154] [170] [196]. Therefore, steps should be taken to avoid these situations where possible. Stent-related perforations are usually treated surgically [101] [169] [190] [197].

Median stent patency in the palliative setting ranges from 3 to 12 months (106 days in a systematic review) [87] [88] [183] [198] [199] [200], with approximately 50 % patent at 12 months [194]. Stent patency is maintained in around 80 % (range 53 % – 90 %) of patients until death or end of follow-up [64] [81] [86] [177] [179] [201].

Migration rates range from 1 % to 10 %, with some evidence that chemotherapy may be associated with higher rates because of tumor shrinkage [58] [61] [76] [83] [86] [101] [103] [104] [139] [151] [165] [169] [171] [172] [173] [175] [184] [189] [192] [202] [203] [204] [205]. Stent occlusion due to overgrowth of malignant tissue, fecal impaction, or tumor ingrowth through the mesh occurs in 3 % – 29 % of cases, with higher rates reported in studies with longer follow-up and in cases of incomplete stent expansion [61] [83] [86] [143] [171] [173] [175] [184] [196] [206].

Both migration and re-obstruction can be managed by stent replacement or stent-in-stent techniques. These are reported as first choice in the majority of patients in the palliative setting, with satisfactory results (clinical success 75 % – 86 %) [74] [75], even though the long-term outcome is rarely reported. In the bridge-to-surgery setting, most patients with occluded or migrated stents are treated with earlier surgery, though the option of re-stenting remains and has not been compared to surgery in this setting [17] [21] [61] [64] [83] [175] [177] [178] [196] [198] [206] [207] [208].

Disclaimer

ESGE Guidelines represent a consensus of best practice based on the available evidence at the time of preparation. They may not apply to all situations and should be interpreted in the setting of specific clinical situations and resource availability. They are intended to be an educational tool to provide information that may support endoscopists in providing care to patients. They are not rules and should not be utilized to establish a legal standard of care.

Competing interests

S. Meisner provides consultancy for Olympus Europa (from April 2019, ongoing). G. Vanbliervliet has provided consultancy to Boston Scientific (2016 to present) and Cook Medical (2019 to present). J.E. van Hooft has received lecture fees from Medtronics (from 2014 to 2015 and 2019) and Cook Medical (2019) and consultancy fees from Boston Scientific (2014 – 2017); her department has received research grants from Cook Medical (2014 – 2019) and Abbott (2014 – 2017). D. Arnold, A. Arezzo R. Beets-Tan, S. Everett, M. Götz, E.E. van Halsema, J. Hill, G. Manes, E. Rodrigues-Pinto, C. Sabbagh, P.J. Tanis, J. Vandervoort and J.V. Veld have no competing interests.

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank Cesare Hassan, Nuovo Regina Margherita Hospital, Rome, Italy, and Toshio Kuwai, National Hospital Organization, Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Kure, Japan, for their thorough review of this Guideline.

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Publication History

Article published online:
07 April 2020