Prevention of covered enteral stent migration in patients with malignant gastric outlet obstruction: a pilot study of anchoring with endoscopic clips.

Objective: Placement of a self-expandable metal stent is a palliative treatment of choice for patients with malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). Although covering an enteral stent with a membrane almost solves the problem of tumor ingrowth, stent migration continues to be a major unresolved problem. Our aim was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of endoscopic clipping for prevention of covered stent migration in the treatment of malignant GOO.

Material And Methods: A total of 25 consecutive patients with malignant GOO were evaluated prospectively. After deployment of a double-layered combination stent (comprising an outer uncovered stent and an inner covered stent), three endoscopic clips were applied for fixation of the proximal end of the enteral stent to the gastric or duodenal mucosa.

Results: Technical and clinical success rates were 100% (25/25) and 88% (22/25), respectively. No stent migration was observed in any of the patients. Five patients (20%) experienced complications such as tumor overgrowth and stent compression.

Conclusion: Endoscopic clipping for enteral stent placement seems to be effective for prevention of covered stent migration in patients with malignant GOO.