Management of upper gastrointestinal obstruction in advanced ovarian cancer with intraluminal stents

Background. The course of many patients with end-stage gynecologic malignancy will be complicated by malignant bowel obstruction. Intraluminal stents are a novel alternative to standard surgical intervention which can involve considerable patient risk. Cases. Two cases are presented of patients with upper gastrointestinal obstruction due to recurrent ovarian cancer. In the first case, a stent was utilised to provide relief from nocturnal vomiting secondary to duodenal obstruction. In the second case, stent insertion for subtotal gastric outlet obstruction provided initial relief from vomiting. However, recurrence of symptoms occurred due to stent occlusion from tumour ingrowth. Conclusions. In patients with upper gastrointestinal obstruction due to recurrent gynecologic malignancy, intraluminal stents can provide useful palliation.