Side-viewing endoscope for colonic self-expandable metal stenting in patients with malignant colonic obstruction

Malignant colon obstruction is a medical emergency and endoscopic decompression, achieved by self-expandable metal stent placement, has been broadly used for both palliation in patients with advanced, nonresectable carcinoma and as a bridge to surgery in those patients with resectable disease. We propose stent insertion assisted by a side-viewing endoscope, in sharply angulated and remarkably stenotic lesions located at the distal sigmoid. Endoscopists should consider, at least for lesions situated in the distal colon, the insertion of a side-viewing endoscope for stenting of technically difficult cases of malignant intestinal obstruction. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 21:585-586 (c) 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.