Quality of Life Improvement Through Endoscopic Stent Placement for Cancer-Related Intestinal Obstruction: A Report of Two Cases

Quality of life (QOL) is often severely reduced in cancer patients due to a decline in overall health and the occurrence of ileus caused by cancer-related intestinal obstruction. We report two cases in which QOL was improved through endoscopic stent placement (ESP). A 94-year-old woman with an 8-cm circumferential tumor in the ascending colon complicated by ileus underwent ESP, during which the intestinal lumen was secured with a 12-cm stent using the double-stenting technique. Oral intake resumed after the procedure, and she was discharged home, both of which contributed to improved QOL. Similarly, an 83-year-old woman with pancreatic head cancer began vomiting three months after choledochojejunostomy and underwent ESP. The pancreatic tumor had invaded from the duodenal bulb to the descending part of the duodenum, and the stent was positioned with the distal end in the lower descending duodenum and the proximal end in the prepyloric region of the stomach. Her QOL improved, and she was discharged home. ESP may effectively relieve ileus and facilitate the resumption of oral intake. Therefore, we actively consider this technique for managing cancer-related intestinal obstruction in advanced cases to improve QOL.