Treatment outcome of laparoscopic surgery after self-expandable metallic stent insertion for obstructive colorectal cancer.

backgroundWe assessed the technical and oncological safety of self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) insertion followed by laparoscopic colorectal surgery as a bridge to surgery (BTS) for obstructive colorectal cancer (CRC).

methodsA retrospective, single-center study analyzed the short- and long-term outcomes of SEMS insertion followed by laparoscopic colorectal surgery in patients with stage II/III/IV obstructive CRC from 2012 to 2020 at Cancer Institute Hospital.

resultsIn 66 patients, including 28 stage IV patients, the clinical success rates of SEMS insertion were 97%. In laparoscopic surgery, primary anastomosis was performed in 61 patients (92%), and open conversion was required in 2 patients (3%). Postoperative complications were seen in 9 patients (13%); however, there was no anastomotic leakage or mortality. Curative resection was achieved in all 38 stage II/III patients and 15 of 28 (54%) stage IV patients. Stage IV patients had a longer operation time and greater blood loss than stage II/III patients; however, the open conversion and postoperative complication rates were similar between the groups. In stage II/III patients, 3-year disease-free survival and 3-year overall survival [OS] were 87.1 and 89.5%, respectively. The median OS of stage IV patients was 34.9 months, and stage IV patients who underwent R0 resection showed a significantly better OS (P = 0.0011) than those with R2 resection.

conclusionSEMS insertion followed by laparoscopic surgery is a feasible treatment strategy that achieves a high-primary anastomosis rate without severe postoperative complication in not only stage II/III but also stage IV obstructive CRC patients.