Sustained relief of obstructive symptoms for the remaining life of patients following placement of an expandable metal stent for malignant colorectal obstruction.

Background: self-expanding metal stents are currently being used as a definitive palliative treatment for malignant colorectal obstruction in patients with incurable disease. Few studies have followed large numbers of patients from stent placement until death, and those few have reported conflicting results in the long-term clinical outcome data.

Aims: this study evaluated the clinical effectiveness of stent placement for malignant colorectal obstruction throughout the patients lives and related factors affecting stent patency, clinical success and complications.