Gastrojejunostomy versus enteral self-expanding metal stent placement in patients with a malignant gastric outlet obstruction

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to determine whether enteral self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) placement or gastrojejunostomy (GJY) for palliation of malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) symptoms results in better survival and quality-of-life outcomes.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included 334 patients who underwent enteral SEMS (n = 241; 56.8% men) or GJY (n = 93; 61.3% men) for palliation of GOO due to unresectable cancer at our tertiary cancer center between 2001 and 2011. Patient demographic and post-procedure outcome data were collected.ResultsThe mean times to tolerate a liquid diet and a soft diet were significantly shorter in the SEMS group (2.2 ± 3.9 days and 4.8 ± 6.2 days, respectively) than in the GJY group (8.9 ± 5.6 days and 13.6 ± 20.3 days, respectively; P = 0.0001). The mean duration of hospital stay was significantly longer for patients who underwent GJY (17.5 ± 9.5 days) than for patients who underwent SEMS placement (12.3 ± 7.9 days; P