Introduction
Malignant intestinal obstruction often results in distressing symptoms and may complicate
end-of-life decision-making. Surgery is invasive and the clinical setting is typically
complex, introducing additional adverse events (AEs). Recovery from surgery may be
prolonged, especially in patients with advanced cancers, complicated medical issues,
and diminished life expectancy. With terminal cancers, the expected survival is limited
and going through invasive surgical procedures increases morbidity, involving up to
two-thirds of the patient’s remaining life [1]. Mortality can be as high as 32 % and the chances for serious AE are significant
(up to 44 %) [1].
We report a novel application of the AXIOS stent and electrocautery-enhanced delivery
system (Boston Scientific, Marlborough, Massachusetts, United States) to create an
enterocolostomy to bypass a small bowel obstruction in the setting of recurrent malignant
bowel obstruction in a patient with terminal cancer.
Case report
A 72-year-old female with past medical history of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, breast cancer,
advanced metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma on chemotherapy, and recent history
of large bowel obstruction status post-placement of a transverse colonic stent, presented
with chief complaints of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Computerized tomography
(CT) of the abdomen demonstrated small bowel obstruction ([Fig. 1])
Fig. 1 Dilated loops of small bowel (left) and previously placed transverse colonic stent
(right).
Conservative management with bowel rest, nasogastric suction, and intravenous fluids
failed to resolve symptoms. Small bowel obstruction was presumed due to tumor burden.
After detailed interdisciplinary discussions with the patient, it was decided to pursue
endoscopic guided decompression.
The patient was placed supine on a fluoroscopy table and sigmoidoscopy performed to
remove stool and introduce water to promote acoustic coupling. A GF-UCT180 curved
linear array echoendoscope (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) was advanced into the sigmoid colon
identifying multiple dilated bowel loops. The bowel was punctured with a 19-gauge
EZ Shot 3 needle (Olympus, Tokyo Japan) and contrast was injected delineating the
local small bowel anatomy ([Fig. 2a]). A 0.025” VisiGlide guidewire (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) was advanced into the small
bowel and the needle exchanged for a 15 mm × 10 mm AXIOS stent and electrocautery-enhanced
delivery system (Boston Scientific, Marlborough, Massachusetts, United States) which
was deployed using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and fluoroscopic guidance ([Fig. 2b]).
Fig. 2 a Fluoroscopic image depicting small bowel puncture using the Olympus needle. b Endoscopic ultrasound image demonstrating the AXIOS stent.
The linear echoendoscope was withdrawn, and a sigmoidoscope was used to inspect the
stent and visualize the small bowel mucosa through the stent ([Fig. 3]).
Fig. 3 Endoscopic image showing the small bowel mucosa through the AXIOS stent.
Repeat CT scan with oral contrast demonstrated decompression of the small bowel and
patency of the enterocolostomy stent ([Fig. 4]).
Fig. 4 Successful placement of the AXIOS stent, coronal section (left) and transverse section
(right).
The patient improved symptomatically after the procedure and tube feeding was resumed
within 24 hours of the procedure. Antibiotics were continued for 5 days post-procedure.
No immediate postoperative AEs were noted with our patient. The patient was subsequently
discharged and followed up as an outpatient. After months of progressively worsening
metastatic cancer and decline in functional status, the patient opted for palliative
care. At this point discussions are underway regarding hospice care.
Discussion
Three percent to 15 % of cancer patients with intraabdominal tumors have malignant
bowel obstruction [2]. It may be acute or chronic; partial or complete. Typically acute and complete obstructions
present with severe symptoms compared to partial and slowly developing ones. Also,
bowel obstruction can have varying predominance of symptoms depending on the site
of obstruction. Typically, proximal obstruction presents with nausea/vomiting as the
predominant complaint [3]. It may lead to dehydration, significant electrolyte imbalance, toxemia (related
to decomposition of intestinal contents and bacterial overgrowth), bowel infarction
and/or perforation [4]. The initial approach includes bowel rest, intravenous fluids, nasogastric decompression
and avoidance of medications that impede bowel motility. If conservative measures
fail, surgical intervention is often required. However, surgery is a source of significant
morbidity in patients with end-stage diseases/malignancies who already have a low
life expectancy.
Our case depicts a novel technique to bypass the mechanically obstructed zone as a
palliative approach to malignant bowel obstructions. This approach, as described above,
not only minimizes perioperative morbidity, but also allows for early functional return,
which is essential for patients with already decreased life expectancy. A major challenge
to this procedure is the technical ability to choose the most distal loop of bowel
among the multiple dilated loops available, which may be complicated by anatomical
restraints, and the ability to successfully deploy the stent. Such cases can be technically
challenging and the failure to successfully complete the procedure may lead to an
iatrogenic perforation requiring emergent surgical intervention and laparotomy.
Conclusion
EUS use to deploy an AXIOS stent, creating an enterocolostomy resolving malignant
bowel obstruction, was successful in the case presented here. Further prospective
studies of this procedure will help to better understand the long-term and short-term
effects on morbidity and mortality.
