OBJECTIVETo evaluate outcomes after different treatment options including endoscopic stent placement, surgical bypass, and percutaneous gastrostomy for malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO).

METHODSThirty-nine patients with GOO secondary to unresectable primary or metastatic cancer were treated with endoscopic stent placement (group 1, n=13), surgical bypass (group 2, n=21), or percutaneous gastrostomy (group 3, n=5). QLQ-STO22 form was used to assess quality of life (QOL) at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months following intervention.

RESULTSOverall median survival time was 68 days. Median survival time in group 1 and group 2 was 85 and 72 days respectively, longer than that in group 3 (48 days, P<0.05). Fourteen patients (7 cases in group 1 and 7 cases in group 2) completed all three QOL surveys. All the patients in group 1 had significant improvement in dysphagia, dietary restrictions, dry mouth, and reflux (P<0.05). In group 2, dysphagia and dietary restrictions were significantly improved (P<0.05), while there were no significant improvements in dry mouth, reflux and pain (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAlthough the prognosis of malignant GOO is poor, endoscopic stent placement and surgical bypass may improve QOL of patients and therefore are reasonable alternatives for palliation.