Self-Expanding Metallic Stents Versus Surgical Intervention as Palliative Therapy for Obstructive Colorectal Cancer: A Meta-analysis

Background: Although self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) are useful tools for relieving large bowel obstructions in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), their efficacy in a palliative setting has not been validated. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the feasibility of SEMS as a palliation for unresectable CRC patients with bowel obstructions and to determine their contribution to the prognosis of CRC, compared with surgical intervention.Methods: We conducted a literature search of the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases. We selected all controlled trials that compared SEMS with surgical interventions as palliative treatments in unresectable obstructive CRC patients. The primary outcome was early complications, and the secondary outcomes were mortality, other morbidities, and long-term survival rates.Results: Ten studies met our inclusion criteria. SEMS significantly reduced the risk of early complications (odds ratio [OR] 0.34; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.20–0.58 %; P < 0.01), mortality (OR 0.31; 95 % CI 0.15 %–0.64 %; P < 0.01), and stoma creation (OR 0.19; 95 % CI 0.12–0.28 %; P < 0.01). Although SEMS placement was significantly associated with a higher risk of perforation of the large bowel (OR 5.25 95 % CI 2.00–13.78 %; P < 0.01) and late complications (OR 1.94; 95 % CI 0.90–4.19 %; P = 0.03), it also contributed significantly to better long-term survival (hazard ratio 0.46; 95 % CI 0.31–0.68 %; P < 0.01). Conclusions: Compared with surgical intervention, SEMS could provide feasible palliation for patients with bowel obstructions and unresectable CRC, because of their acceptable morbidity rates and better patient prognoses.