Propensity Score-Matched Comparison of Stenting as Bridge to Surgery and Emergency Surgery for Acute Malignant Left-Sided Colonic Obstruction

PurposeBridge to elective surgery (BTS) using self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) is a common alternative to emergency surgery (ES) for acute malignant left-sided colonic obstruction (AMLCO). However, the study regarding long-term impact of BTS is limited and unclear.MethodsA multicenter observational study was performed at three hospitals from April 2012 to December 2019. Propensity score matching (PSM) was introduced to minimize selection bias. The primary endpoint was overall survival. The secondary endpoints included surgical approaches, primary resection types, total stent related adverse effects (AEs), surgical AEs, length of hospital stay, 30-day mortality and tumor recurrence.Results49 patients in both BTS and ES group were matched. Patients in the BTS group more often underwent laparoscopic resection (31 [63.3%] vs 8 [16.3%], p<0.001), less likely to have a primary stoma (13 [26.5%] vs 26 [53.1%], p=0.007) and more often had perineural invasion (25 [51.0%] vs 13 [26.5%], p=0.013). The median overall survival was significantly lower in patients with stent insertion (41 vs 65 months, p=0.041). 3-year overall survival (53.0% vs 77.2%, p=0.039) and 5-year overall survival (30.6% vs 55.0%, p=0.025) were significantly less favorable in the BTS group. In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, stenting (hazard ratio(HR)= 2.309(1.052-5.066), p=0.037), surgical AEs (HR=1.394(1.053-1.845), p=0.020) and pTNM stage (HR=1.706(1.116-2.607), p=0.014) were positively correlated with overall survival in matched patients. ConclusionsSelf-expanding metal stents as “a bridge to surgery” is associated with more perineural invasion, higher recurrence rate and worse overall survival in patients with acute malignant left-sided colonic obstruction compared with emergency surgery.