Conservative management of malignant gastric outlet obstruction syndrome-evidence based evaluation of endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastroentero-anastomosis

Abstract

Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is a clinical syndrome characterized by postprandial vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating and, in advanced cases, by weight loss secondary to inadequate oral intake. This clinical entity may be caused by mechanical obstruction, either benign or malignant, or by motility disorders. In this review we will focus on malignant GOO and on its endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided palliative treatment. The most frequent malignant causes of this syndrome are gastric and locally advanced pancreatic carcinomas; other causes include duodenal or ampullary neoplasms, gastric lymphomas, retroperitoneal lymphadenopathies and, more infrequently, gallbladder and bile duct cancers. Surgery represents the treatment of choice when radical and curative resection is potentially feasible; if the malignant cause is not likely to be completely resected, palliative treatments should be proposed. Palliative treatments for malignant GOO are primarily based on surgical gastro-jejunostomy and endoscopic placement of an enteral self-expanding metal stent. Both treatments are effective; however, endoscopic stent placement is less invasive and it is associated with good short-term results, while surgery provides longer-lasting effects with a lower frequency of reintervention. In the last few years, EUS-guided gastroenterostomy (GE) has been proposed as palliative treatment for malignant GOO. This novel technique consists of the creation of an anastomosis between the gastric lumen and a small bowel loop distal to the malignant obstruction, through the deployment of a lumen-apposing metal stent under EUS-view. EUS-GE has the advantage of being as minimally invasive as enteral stent placement, and of guaranteeing long-term results similar to those of surgery.

Renal pelvis cancer with initial symptoms of malignant gastric outlet obstruction

“…Neoplasm progression in the pylorus or duodenum can give rise to MGOO, causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting 1 . The main causes of MGOO are gastric and pancreatic cancers, which are unresectable due to progression 1 . Without intervention, lack of nutrition and electrolyte imbalance can be fatal for MGOO patients, requiring gastrojejunostomy or duodenal stenting 2 …”

“…Neoplasm progression in the pylorus or duodenum can give rise to MGOO, causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting 1 . The main causes of MGOO are gastric and pancreatic cancers, which are unresectable due to progression 1 .…”

“…1 The main causes of MGOO are gastric and pancreatic cancers, which are unresectable due to progression. 1 Without intervention, lack of nutrition and electrolyte imbalance can be fatal for MGOO patients, requiring gastrojejunostomy or duodenal stenting. 2 In our case, the UTUC infiltrating and compressing the duodenal wall led to the first MGOO symptoms of nausea and vomiting, without hematuria.…”

“…Gastrojejunostomy or duodenal stent placement is often performed to treat these symptoms. 2 The leading causes of MGOO are gastric and pancreatic cancers 1 ; MGOO owing to UTUC is rare. In this report, we present a case of right renal pelvis cancer with initial symptoms of MGOO.…”

“…MGOO is a complication in which the stomach and/or duodenum is mechanically obstructed by cancer 1 . This obstruction leads to poor oral intake owing to nausea and vomiting.…”