A Metal Stent in a Colostomy Obstruction

mic intraperitoneal chemotherapy) procedure was performed. Afterwards, she again started chemotherapy. A few months later, however, progression of disease was reported (by CT scan) and 12 cycles of palliative chemotherapy (irinotecan and bevacizumab) followed. She stopped therapy because of side effects. On admission, distended bowel loops were seen on CT caused by stenosis of the colostomy due to tumor overgrowth. Endoscopy revealed a short segment of obstruction right after introduction through the colostomy. Given the poor prognosis and recent surgeries, a surgical approach was not possible. Therefore, a 6-cm uncovered 25mm WallFlex stent (Boston Scientific) was placed with good functional result. Two months later, tumor growth again led to obstruction of the colostomy. Then, a fully covered, proximal-release, 10-cm 25-mm WallFlex stent (Boston Scientific) stent was placed. From the beginning, the metal stent protruded around 1 cm from the colostomy (Fig. 1), causing pain and practical difficulties such as wearing clothes. A plaster cast was created to cover the colostomy and the stent causing less pain (Fig. 2). Six months later, the patient died due to progressive disease, without clinical evidence of re-obstruction of the colostomy.