Clinical and Technical Outcomes of patients undergoing EUS-Guided Gastroenterostomy using 20 mm vs 15 mm LAMS

Background/Aims: The majority of studies on EUS-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE) for palliation of malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) have utilized a 15mm lumen apposing metal stent (LAMS). More recently, a 20mm LAMS has become available. The aim of this study was to compare rates of technical and clinical success, and adverse events (AEs) in patients undergoing EUS-GE using a 20mm vs 15mm LAMS. Methods: Patients who underwent EUS-GE with 15mm or 20mm LAMS for malignant GOO during the period of 1/2018-10/2020 were included. The primary outcome was clinical success, defined as an increase in the gastric outlet obstruction score (GOOS) by at least 1 point during follow-up. Secondary outcomes were technical success, maximum tolerated diet, rate of reintervention, and the rate/severity of AEs. Results: A total of 267 patients (mean age 67yr, F 43%) with malignant GOO from 19 centers underwent EUS-GE. The rate of clinical success was similar between the 15mm and 20mm stents (89.2% [95% CI 84.2-94.2] vs 84.1% [95%CI 77.4-90.6]). However, a significantly higher proportion of patients in the 20mm group tolerated a soft solid/complete diet at the end of follow-up (91.2% [95%CI 84.4-95.7] vs 81.2% [95%CI 73.9-87.2] p=0.04). Overall, AEs occurred in 33 (12.4% [95%CI 8.4-16.3]) patients, with rates being similar between 15mm and 20mm stents (12.8% [95%CI 7.5-18.2] vs 11.8% [95%CI 6-17.6]), including incidence of severe/fatal AEs (2% [95%CI 0.4-5.8] vs 3.4% [95%CI 0.9-8.4]). Conclusions: The 20mm LAMS is similar to the 15mm LAMS in terms of safety and efficacy for patients undergoing EUS-GE for malignant GOO. The 20 mm LAMS allows a more advanced diet and is, thus, the preferred LAMS during EUS-GE.

Malignant Gastric Outlet Obstruction Caused by Duodenal Cervix Metastasis in a Young Woman: Rendezvous Technique

Background: Malignant gastric outlet obstruction (MGOD) is an extremely rare expression of advanced extra-gastrointestinal cancer, such as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix, and only sixcases are described in the literature.Because of the short life expectancyand the high surgical risk involving these patients, less invasive approaches have been developed over time, such asthe use of an enteral stent or less invasive surgical techniques (i.e., laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy). However, MGOD could make it difficult to perform an endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) for standard endoscopic drainage, so in this case a combined endoscopic-percutaneous technique may be performed. This article, therefore, aims to highlight the presence in the doctor’s armamentarium of the “rendezvous technique”, few case reports of whichare described in the literature, and, moreover, this article aims to underline the technique’sfeasibility. Case Presentation: The case is that of a 38-year-old woman who presented with MGOD three years after the diagnosis of SCC of the cervix, who successfully underwent the rendezvous technique with the resolution of duodenal obstruction. Endoscopic enteral stenting treatment with the placement of a metal stent (SEMSs) represents the mainstay of MGOD treatment compared withsurgery due to its lower morbidity, mortality, shorter hospitalization and earlier symptom relief. However, in patients with both duodenal and biliary obstruction, a combined endoscopic–percutaneous approach may be necessary because of the difficulty in passing the duodenal stricture or in accessing the papilla through the mesh of the duodenal SEMS. Conclusion: The rendezvous procedure is a technicallyfeasible and minimally invasive approach to the double stenting of biliary and duodenal strictures. It achieves the desired therapeutic result while avoiding the need to perform more invasive procedures that could have a negative impact on the patient’sprognosis.