Colonic Stent as “Bridge to Surgery” and Its Complications: A Case Report

Introduction: Endoluminal colonic stents can be used as a palliative solution in case of neoplastic subocclusions of the bowel and in some cases, they have been proposed as a temporary solution, in place of the derivative stoma, waiting for radical surgery. The "bridge to surgery" solution however can be complicated by perforations or dislocations that can make the patient's cancer treatment more complex. Case Presentation: A seventy-nine-year-old female patient presented a medium sigma adenocarcinoma that was treated initially with a stent to solve the bowel subocclusion. The procedure was complicated by a perforation that leaded to a modification of the TNM stage and consequently of the oncological therapeutic attitude. Conclusion: Self expandable stents could be used to solve the bowel occlusion to replace the derivative stoma performed in urgency. These procedures guarantee a better quality of life and generally less morbidity. However, an accurate assessment of the risks resulting from the positioning of the stents is necessary, avoiding the implant of the stent in tortuous or angled sections of the bowel with a high risk of decubitus and consequently of micro or macro perforations.