The international surgical journal with global reach

This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

Self-expanding metallic stents versus surgical intervention as palliative therapy for obstructive colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis. World J Surg 2015; 39: 2037-2044.

Published: 15th December 2015

Authors: Takahashi H, Okabayashi K, Tsuruta M, Hasegawa H, Yahagi M, Kitagawa Y et al.

Conclusion

This review included ten studies. Stents reduced the risk of early complications (odds ratio 0.34, 95 per cent confidence interval 0.2 to 0.58, P<0.01), and the need for a stoma (0.19, 0.12 to 0.28, P<0.01). They increased the risk of perforation (5.25, 2 to 13.8, P<0.01) and late complications (1.94, 0.9 to 4.19, P=0.03). They contributed to improved long term survival (0.46, 0.31 to 0.68, P<0.01).

Pubmed Link