Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and second most common cause of cancer related deaths. Up to 20% of cases develop obstruction, 8–13% initially presenting with colonic obstruction. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment but it carries risks of morbidity (18–46%) and mortality (16–38%) in obstructed patients. Expanding metal stents have been inserted since the early 1990s. Insertion of an expanding metal stent is an option for patients with left colonic obstruction due to malignancy, particularly suited to cases where palliative rather than curative treatment is contemplated. Arguably stenting should be avoided in patients for whom curative surgery is possible. Published results are variable, but there is a trend to lower morbidity, and considerable savings in resources.
