Comparison of decompression tubes with metallic stents for the management of right-sided malignant colonic obstruction

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Emergency surgical resection is a standard treatment for right-sided malignant colonic obstruction; however, the procedure is associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity. Although a bridge to surgery can be created to obviate the need for emergency surgery, its effects on long-term outcomes and the most practical management strategies for right-sided malignant colonic obstruction remain unclear.

AIM

To determine the appropriate management approach for right-sided malignant colonic obstruction.

METHODS

Forty patients with right-sided malignant colonic obstruction who underwent curative resection from January 2007 to April 2017 were included in the study. We compared the perioperative and long-term outcomes of patients who received bridges to surgery established using decompression tubes and those created using self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS). The primary outcome was the overall survival duration (OS) and the secondary endpoints were the disease-free survival (DFS) duration and the preoperative and postoperative morbidity rates. Analysis was performed on an intention-to-treat basis.

RESULTS

There were 21 patients in the decompression tube group and 19 in the SEMS group. There were no significant differences in the perioperative morbidity rates of the two groups. The OS rate was significantly higher in the decompression tube group than in the SEMS group (5-year OS rate; decompression tube 79.5%, SEMS 32%, P = 0.043). Multivariate analysis revealed that the bridge to surgery using a decompression tube was significantly associated with the OS (hazard ratio, 17.41; P = 0.004). The 3-year DFS rate was significantly higher in the decompression tube group than in the SEMS group (68.9% vs 45.9%; log-rank test, P = 0.032). A propensity score–adjusted analysis also demonstrated that the prognosis was significantly better in the decompression tube group than in the SEMS group.

CONCLUSION

The bridge to surgery using trans-nasal and trans-anal decompression tubes for right-sided malignant colonic obstruction is safe and may improve long-term outcomes.

Key Words: Right-sided colon cancer, Large bowel obstruction, Self-expandable metallic stent, Trans-anal tube, Trans-nasal tube

Core tip: Patients with malignant colonic obstructions typically undergo emergency surgery, which is associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity. To overcome this, bridges to surgery have been proposed, but their efficacy in patients with right-sided malignant colonic obstructions remains unclear, mainly because obstructions are less common in patients with right- than left-sided colon cancer. We compared two bridges to surgery: Decompression tubes and self-expandable metallic stents. The short-term outcomes of the two groups did not differ, but the overall survival and disease-free survival rates were better in the former patients, suggesting that decompression tube placement may be optimal.

INTRODUCTION

Colorectal cancer is highly prevalent, and increasing in incidence in many developed countries. Of patients with colorectal cancer, 8%-16% present to emergency departments with bowel obstruction[1-3]. A large proportion of patients with malignant colonic obstruction have left-sided colon cancer, in which the incidence of obstruction is reportedly higher than that in right-sided colon cancer[4,5]. This is likely due to the differences in diameter and fecal consistency between the right and left sides of the colon.

Although patients with malignant colonic obstruction typically undergo emergency surgery, the procedure is associated with higher rates of mortality and morbidity compared to elective surgery[6]. To overcome this, a bridge to surgery using metallic stents was proposed. However, a bridge to surgery using metallic stents for curable left-sided malignant colonic obstruction is not recommended due to the poor oncologic outcomes[7-11]. Most prior studies of the management of malignant colonic obstruction involved patients with left-sided colon cancer; thus, evidence for the management of right-sided malignant colonic obstruction (RMCO) is lacking. Patients who undergo emergency surgery for RMCO have a mortality rate of 10%-16%[6,12], but a retrospective study suggested that a bridge to surgery for RMCO improved short- and long-term outcomes[13].

As an alternative to metallic stents, a bridge to surgery using a decompression tube, first reported by Lelcuk et al[14] in 1985, can be used in patients with malignant colonic obstruction. In Asian countries, a decompression tube is widely used for malignant bowel obstruction. Because of the soft feces in the right colon, bowel decompression using a trans-nasal or trans-anal tube is effective. Although the efficacy of using a decompression tube for left-sided malignant colonic obstruction has been evaluated[15-18], whether this is also the case for RMCO is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the optimum management strategy for patients with RMCO by comparing the perioperative and oncologic outcomes of bridges to surgery using decompression tubes and metallic stents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patient population

We enrolled patients diagnosed with clinically and radiologically confirmed large bowel obstruction who subsequently underwent curative surgical resection for confirmed colonic adenocarcinoma at our hospital from January 2007 to April 2017. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) Clinically and radiologically confirmed malignant large bowel obstruction; (2) pathologically confirmed American Joint Committee on Cancer stage II–IV colon cancer; (3) a history of curative surgery including resection of metastatic lesions; and (4) a primary tumor located between the cecum and the proximal transverse colon. The exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) Double cancer; (2) lack of intent to perform bowel decompression preoperatively; and (3) unavailability of case data. The study was conducted with the approval of the Ethics Committee of our hospital (approval number 2018-27).

Study design

The patients were divided into a decompression tube group and a self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) group. The decompression tube group consisted of patients who intended to be treated preoperatively with a trans-nasal or trans-anal decompression tube, and the SEMS group consisted of patients intended to be treated preoperatively with a SEMS. The feasibility of preoperative bowel decompression was evaluated by two colorectal surgeons and preoperative treatment was attempted when possible. We routinely used a decompression tube preoperatively in all patients from 2007 to 2011. Following the initiation of coverage by national health insurance in 2012, SEMS have been the standard method for preoperative bowel decompression. Patients with technical or clinical failure of preoperative bowel decompression were analyzed in the decompression tube and SEMS groups on an intention-to-treat basis.

Preoperative treatment and surgical procedures

In the decompression tube group, the selection of a trans-nasal or trans-anal tube was dependent on the surgeon’s preference. The trans-nasal tube included a nasogastric tube and a long intestinal tube. The trans-anal and long intestinal tubes were inserted under radiological guidance, with additional endoscopic guidance used during the insertion of the trans-anal tube (Supplemental Figures 1 and 2). Details of trans-anal decompression and tube insertion are provided elsewhere[18]. The tip of the long intestinal tube was placed in the distal intestine at Treiz’s ligament and the balloon was inflated with distilled water. Following decompression tube insertion, oral intake was restricted during decompression. In patients with trans-anal tubes, the intestinal tract was cleaned once or twice daily using 500-1000 mL of water for a few days until the feces content of the colon was reduced to an acceptable level.

Figure 1 Summary of the study design. SEMS: Self-expandable metallic stents.

Figure 2 Kaplan–Meier analysis of overall survival on an intention-to-treat basis. SEMS: Self-expandable metallic stents.

SEMS placement was performed by two experienced endoscopists. If the bowel dilatation was relieved by the SEMS, oral intake until the day before elective surgery was permitted. Colectomy was performed according to optimal oncological principles. Colectomy was performed approximately 7 d after decompression tube insertion in the decompression tube group and approximately 14-21 d after SEMS placement in the SEMS group to avoid the increased risk of complications due to prolonged tube or SEMS patency.

Follow-up and data extraction

The follow-up investigation was performed according to the Japanese guidelines[19]. Data on the patients’ clinical characteristics, operative findings, and pathological findings were collected from the medical records. Follow-up data for all patients were available, and the study was terminated in July 2018.

Endpoint

The primary outcome was the overall survival (OS) duration on an intention-to-treat basis. OS was defined as the time from resection of the primary tumor to death from any cause, or was censored at the date of the last follow-up. The secondary endpoints were the disease-free survival (DFS) duration and the preoperative and postoperative morbidity rates. DFS was defined as the time between curative surgery and the first relapse, a second primary colon cancer, death from any cause when no evidence of relapse was recorded, or the last date at which the patient was known to be free of disease (time of censoring).

Statistical analyses

Continuous variables are expressed as medians and interquartile ranges (IQR). Correlations between categorical variables were analyzed using chi-squared tests, and continuous variables were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis test. The Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test were used to compare survival curves. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used for univariate and multivariate analyses. A forward-backward stepwise method was used to retain all of the variables with P < 0.05 in the final multivariate model. In addition, we calculated the propensity scores of the treatments and adjusted the hazard ratios (HRs) for OS and DFS by using inverse propensity scores as weights. All analyses were two-sided, and values of P < 0.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS software version 25 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, United States) and R version 3.5.1 (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria), with the “MASS”, “survival,” and “rms” packages.

RESULTS

A summary of the study design is shown in Figure 1. Forty patients underwent curative resection after intention to treat with bridge to surgery based on a diagnosis of RMCO. Of these, decompression tube insertion was attempted in 21 patients and SEMS placement in 19 patients. These patients comprised the decompression tube group and the SEMS group, respectively. In the decompression tube group, 8 and 13 patients received trans-nasal and trans-anal decompression tubes, respectively; 3 patients who received trans-anal tubes underwent emergency surgery due to technical or clinical failure of tube insertion. In the SEMS group, two patients received emergency surgery due to failure of SEMS placement.

Patient characteristics

Table 1 shows the clinical characteristics and pathological findings of the patients. The median age of the patients at the time of surgery was 67.5 years (IQR, 59-78.75 years). The median follow-up time was 3.02 years (IQR, 1.51-5.00 years). The TNM stage distribution was 0% stage I, 42.5% stage II, 42.5% stage III, and 15.0% stage IV. Patients with stage IV colon cancer underwent curative surgery with resection of metastatic lesions. There were no significant differences in patient characteristics among the three groups, with the exception of presence of lymphatic invasion (P = 0.042).

Table 1 Patient characteristics and clinicopathological findings.

	All cases	Decompression tube	SEMS	P value
Cases	40	21	19
Age (median, IQR)	67.5(59-78.75)	68(62.5-78.5)	66.5(56.5-81)	0.63
Sex
Male	19	11	8
Female	21	10	11	0.545
BMI (median, IQR)	22.1 (21.1-24.9)	23.0 (21.8-26.1)	21.6 (20.6-23.5)	0.098
Location
Cecum	4	4	0
Ascending colon	17	6	11
Transverse colon	19	11	8	0.053
Histological type
W/D and M/D	35	18	17
P/D, muc, and sig	5	3	2	1
Lymphatic invasion
absent	4	0	4
present	36	21	15	0.042
Vascular invasion
absent	5	1	4
present	35	20	15	0.172
TNM stage
2	17	8	9
3	17	12	5
4	6	1	5	0.063
Observation period (median, IQR)	3.02 (1.51-5.00)	4.43 (1.88-5.83)	2.05 (1.32-3.39)	0.075

IQR: Interquartile range; BMI: Body mass index; LN: Lymph nodes; W/D: Well differentiated; M/D: Moderately differentiated; P/D: Poorly differentiated; muc: Mucinous adenocarcinoma; sig: Signet ring cell carcinoma; SEMS: Self-expandable metallic stents.

Operative findings and short-term endpoints

Table 2 shows the operative findings and complications for each group. The technical success rate of the decompression tube group was 90.5% (19 of 21 patients) and the overall success rate was 85.7% (18 of 21 patients). In two patients with technical failure of decompression tube insertion, the guide wire could not pass the tumor. Perforation of the colon wall occurred in one patient with clinical failure of decompression tube insertion. The median time from decompression tube insertion to surgery was 8 d. In the SEMS group, the technical success rate was 94.7% (18 of 19 patients) and the overall success rate of SEMS placement was 89.5% (17 of 19 patients). In the case of technical failure of SEMS placement, the guide wire did not pass the tumor. The one case of clinical failure was due to perforation of the colon wall. The median time from SEMS placement to surgery was 23 d.

Table 2 Operation findings and short-term outcomes.

	Decompression tube	SEMS	P value
Cases	21	19
Operation method
Open	8	0
Laparoscopy	13	19	0.004
Harvested LN (median, IQR)	15 (9.5-27)	28 (15-34)	0.028
Operation time (min, median, IQR)	134 (85.5-147)	124 (84-143)	0.807
Blood loss (mL, median, IQR)	50 (10-81.5)	10 (0-50)	0.033
Complications associated with bowel decompression	3	2	1.000
Technical failure	2	1
Colon perforation during decompression	1	1
Overall postoperative complications	8	6	0.748
sSSI	3	3
dSSI	0	2
Prolonged ileus	3	0
Heart failure	1	0
Pneumonia	1	0
Pseudomembranous colitis	1	0
Delirium	0	1
Clavian-Dindo classification
0	13	13
I	2	4
II	5	0
III	1	2	0.116

IQR: Interquartile range; LN: Lymph nodes; sSSI: Superficial surgical site infection; dSSI: Deep surgical site infection; SEMS: Self-expandable metallic stent.

Laparoscopic procedures were performed more frequently in the SEMS group than in the decompression tube group (100% vs 61.9%, P = 0.004). The SEMS group had significantly less blood loss and a larger number of dissected lymph nodes. The overall postoperative morbidity rate did not differ significantly between the two treatment groups (decompression tube, 38.1%; SEMS, 31.6%; P = 0.748), but prolonged ileus occurred only in the decompression tube group. No mortality occurred within 30 d after surgery.

Overall survival on an intention-to-treat basis

The OS of patients on an intention-to-treat basis is shown in Figure 2. The 5-year OS rate was significantly higher in the decompression tube group than in the SEMS group (79.5% vs 32%; log-rank test, P = 0.043). The relationship between management strategy and OS was analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. In a multivariate analysis using the stepwise method, the bridge to surgery using a decompression tube was an independent prognostic factor for OS along with sex, histological type, and TNM stage (Table 3). Compared with the decompression tube group, the HR of the bridge to surgery using SEMS was 17.41 [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.50-121; P = 0.004]. Propensity scores for the two treatments were calculated using a logistic analysis that included the following preoperative factors: age, sex, BMI, primary site, and TNM stage. The propensity score–adjusted OS was significantly higher in the decompression tube group than in the SEMS groups (HR = 4.51, P = 0.046).

Table 3 Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses of overall survival.

Variables	HR	95%CI	P value
Sex
Male	Reference
Female	0.08	0.01-0.49	0.006
Histological type
W/D and M/D	Reference
P/D, muc, and sig	6.61	0.80-54.36	0.079
TNM Stage
2	Reference
3	14.64	1.98-108	0.009
4	18.90	1.48-242	0.024
Bowel decompression
Decompression tube	Reference
SEMS	17.41	2.50-121	0.004

HR: Hazard ratio; CI: Confidence interval; W/D: Well differentiated; M/D: Moderately differentiated; P/D: Poorly differentiated; muc: Mucinous adenocarcinoma; sig: Signet ring cell carcinoma; SEMS: Self-expandable metallic stents.

Disease-free survival on an intention-to-treat basis

The results of the Kaplan–Meier analysis of DFS on an intention-to-treat basis are shown in Figure 3. The 3-year DFS rate was significantly higher in the decompression tube group than in the SEMS group (68.9% vs 45.9%; log-rank test, P = 0.032). In the multivariate analysis, the bowel decompression method was a significant prognostic factor along with age, histological type, number of lymph nodes dissected, and TNM stage (Table 4). Bridge to surgery using a decompression tube significantly improved the DFS compared with bridge to surgery using SEMS (HR = 14.56, P = 0.003). Analysis of the propensity score–adjusted DFS rate in the decompression tube group yielded the same results (decompression tube vs SEMS: HR = 3.83, P = 0.021).

Figure 3 Kaplan–Meier analysis of disease-free survival on an intention-to-treat basis. SEMS: Self-expandable metallic stents.

Table 4 Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses of disease free survival.

Variables	HR	95%CI	P value
Age	0.93	0.88-0.99	0.013
Histological type
W/D and M/D	Reference
P/D, muc, and sig	3.63	0.80-16.31	0.092
Harvested LN	0.93	0.87-1.00	0.047
TNM Stage
2	Reference
3	5.68	1.42-22.75	0.014
4	2.00	0.37-10.55	0.429
Bowel decompression
Decompression tube	Reference
SEMS	14.56	2.50-85.57	0.003

HR: Hazard ratio; CI: Confidence interval; W/D: Well differentiated; M/D: Moderately differentiated; P/D: Poorly differentiated; muc: Mucinous adenocarcinoma; sig: Signet ring cell carcinoma; SEMS: Self-expandable metallic stents; LN: Lymph nodes.

Effects of the treatments actually performed on overall survival

Five patients who were scheduled for treatment with a decompression tube or SEMS received emergency surgery due to technical or clinical failure. The 5-year survival rates of patients actually treated with the decompression tube and SEMS were 84.4% and 38.8%, respectively (P = 0.110, log-rank test), and the 3-year DFS rates were 71.3% and 51.8%, respectively (P = 0.113, log-rank test).

DISCUSSION

Among patients with RMCO, those who received bridge to surgery using a trans-nasal or trans-nasal decompression tube had better outcomes in this study. Moreover, the perioperative morbidity rate of patients treated with decompression tubes was similar to that of patients receiving SEMS. Patients treated with decompression tubes also had a better OS and DFS. These results were confirmed statistically in a multivariate analysis using the stepwise method and propensity score adjustment. Although evidence of the optimum treatment for RMCO is lacking[6,12], preoperative use of a bowel decompression tube may improve the prognosis.

We report here the efficacy of trans-nasal and trans-anal decompression tubes for RMCO. A trans-nasal long intestinal tube reportedly improves bowel expansion in patients with RMCO[20] and a trans-anal tube facilitates preoperative colonic lavage for one-stage surgery for left-sided malignant colorectal obstruction[16,17,21]. Indeed, patients with malignant colorectal obstruction treated with trans-anal decompression tubes reportedly have an improved prognosis[18], possibly due to the high morbidity and mortality rates of emergency surgery for RMCO[22] or the conservative colectomy typically performed during emergency surgery for obstructive colon cancer. Thus, preoperative decompression tube placement may be effective for RMCO, but this requires external validation.

We also investigated the effects of a bridge to surgery using SEMS. SEMS placement is not recommended for left-sided malignant colonic obstruction as a bridge to surgery, and evidence of its suitability for RMCO is lacking[10]. Although SEMS can be successfully placed in the right colon[23,24], this did not significantly improve the long-term outcomes in a multicenter retrospective study. Our findings are in agreement with these previous reports. The reason for the superiority of the decompression tube may be the risk of tumor compression (resulting in disease progression) associated with SEMS placement. The oncological risk of SEMS may counteract the advantage of avoiding emergency surgery.

Whereas left-sided malignant colonic obstruction has been researched extensively, few studies have addressed RMCO because the larger diameter and softer feces of the right colon result in a lower prevalence rate. The softer feces may explain the good results of bowel decompression. The successful SEMS insertion rate for RMCO is reportedly 96%-100%, higher than that for left-sided malignant colonic obstruction[17,24]. A decompression tube facilitates bowel decompression and lavage to a greater extent in the right than the left colon. In this study, both SEMS and decompression tubes showed highly successful decompression rates. Because trans-anal and trans-nasal decompression tubes enable colonic lavage and are not tumor-invasive, they can be recommended for the management of RMCO.

Regarding operative findings and short-term outcomes, the bridge to surgery using the SEMS was associated with a higher frequency of laparoscopic surgery and less blood loss during the operation. Previous reports suggested that bowel decompression with SEMS for malignant colonic obstruction increased the need for laparoscopic surgery[13,16,25]. Moreover, in a meta-analysis, laparoscopic surgery for malignant colonic obstruction was not found to result in significantly different morbidity and mortality rates compared with open laparotomy and was more likely to enable minimally invasive surgery[26]. In the present study, the reason for the higher rate of laparoscopic surgery in patients in the SEMS group might be historical, as we routinely used a decompression tube preoperatively in all patients with RMCO from 2007 to 2011, and have preferentially used SEMS since 2012. However, we demonstrated that laparoscopic surgery after good intestinal decompression can lead to safer and less invasive surgery. As few studies with high evidence levels regarding laparoscopic surgery for malignant obstruction are available, further investigations, including assessments of long-term outcomes, are needed.

To reduce the possibility of selection bias in this retrospective study, we applied inverse propensity scores as weights, which yielded appropriate estimates with less mean squared error, increasing the reliability of the results[27]. In addition, to increase the robustness of the study, we performed an intention-to-treat analysis. Patients in the decompression tube and SEMS groups were analyzed as if they had received only those treatments, even if they actually underwent emergency surgery due to treatment failure.

There were several limitations to our study. First, as it involved a single center, the findings require external validation. Second, relatively few patients were analyzed; this is unavoidable due to the low incidence of RMCO. Third, the treatments applied for malignant colonic obstruction differ among Europe, the United States, and Asia. In Japan, long trans-nasal and trans-anal tubes are routinely used for bowel obstruction. However, in Europe and the US, long tubes are not routinely used for bowel obstruction, based on the results of an older trial[28], and trans-anal decompression tubes are not available. In addition, the preoperative quality of life of RMCO patients who are treated with a decompression tube is obviously worse than that of those treated with SEMS. The fecal odor from the tube and the presence of the tube itself make patients feel extremely uncomfortable[16]. Nevertheless, as recent studies have demonstrated the satisfactory performance of trans-nasal and trans-anal decompression tubes[18,29], their efficacy for the management of RMCO should be evaluated in a multi-center randomized controlled study.

In conclusion, preoperative bowel decompression using trans-nasal and trans-anal decompression tubes for RMCO is safe and may improve the long-term outcomes.

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Research background

As the incidence of obstruction with left-sided colon cancer is reportedly higher than that in right-sided colon cancer, there is a lack of data regarding the management of right-sided malignant colonic obstruction (RMCO).

Research motivation

Although emergency surgery is a standard treatment for malignant colonic obstruction, the efficacy of bridges to surgery using self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) or decompression tubes has only recently been evaluated.

Research objectives

To evaluate the optimum management strategy for patients with RMCO by comparing the perioperative and oncologic outcomes of bridges to surgery using decompression tubes and metallic stents.

Research methods

This was a single-center, retrospective observational study. The subjects were patients diagnosed with RMCO who underwent curative surgical resection. We compared patients who were preoperatively treated with SEMS to those treated with decompression tubes. The primary endpoint was the overall survival (OS) duration on an intention-to-treat basis and the secondary endpoints were the disease-free survival (DFS) duration and the preoperative and postoperative morbidity rates. In addition, to reduce the likelihood of selection bias, we applied inverse propensity scores as weights.

Research results

There was no significant difference in perioperative morbidity rate between the two groups. The OS rate was significantly higher in the decompression tube group than the SEMS group (5-year OS rates of 79.5 and 32%, respectively, P = 0.043). Multivariate analysis revealed that the bridge to surgery using a decompression tube was significantly associated with the OS (hazard ratio, 17.41; P = 0.004). The 3-year DFS rate was significantly higher in the decompression tube group than the SEMS group (68.9% vs 45.9%; log-rank test, P = 0.032). A propensity score–adjusted analysis also demonstrated that the prognosis was significantly better in the decompression tube group than in the SEMS group.

Research conclusions

The results of this study suggest that patients with RMCO who received a bridge to surgery using a trans-nasal or trans-nasal decompression tube had better outcomes; these results were confirmed statistically in a multivariate analysis using the stepwise method and propensity score adjustment.

Research perspectives

Because this study used a single-center retrospective design and included relatively few patients, further investigations, such as a multi-center randomized controlled study, are needed. In addition, as the decompression tubes can make patients uncomfortable, a study including quality of life measures is desirable.