Outcomes of Patients with Left-Sided Obstructive Colorectal Cancer: Comparison between Self-Expandable Metallic Stent and Other Treatment Methods

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> This multi-institutional retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placement for patients with left-sided obstructive colorectal cancer (OCRC). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Overall, 520 consecutive patients who received treatment for OCRC were enrolled. Of these, the data of 253 patients who underwent primary tumour resection for left-sided OCRC were reviewed. The short- and long-term outcomes were compared between the SEMS group and other three groups: transanal decompression tube (TaDT), decompressing stoma (DS), and emergency resection (ER). <b><i>Results:</i></b> The SEMS group had a higher frequency of laparoscopic surgery (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001), lesser frequency of postoperative stoma (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001), and more dissected lymph nodes (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001) than the other groups. Moreover, the SEMS group had shorter postoperative hospital stays than the TaDT, DS, and ER groups (<i>p</i> = 0.005, <i>p</i> = 0.037, and <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001, respectively). The Kaplan-Meier survival curves of recurrence-free survival and overall survival did not differ significantly between the SEMS group and the other three groups in patients with stage II and III diseases. <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> Elective surgery after SEMS placement may improve short-term outcomes compared to other treatment strategies, with similar long-term outcomes.