Examination of Physicians’ Perception of the Indications of Colorectal Stents in the Management of Malignant Large Bowel Obstruction: A Provincial Survey

Table 2

All respondents’ management decisions (measured in proportions, %) based on eight clinical scenarios of malignant large bowel obstruction (detailed in Box 1), with the optimal approach highlighted in bold, as suggested by the 2014 ESGE/ASGE guidelines.

Scenario	Option A	Option B	Option C	Option D
1: young, healthy	17.9	0	74.1	8
2: elderly, healthy	29.5	20.5	39.3	10.7
3: young, comorbid	42	7.1	42.9	8
4: elderly, comorbid	22.3	56.3	13.4	8
5: young, no chemotherapy	4.5	85.7	6.2	3.6
6: elderly, no chemotherapy	0.9	78.5	2.7	17.9
7: young, chemotherapy	9.8	57.1	20.6	12.5
8: elderly, chemotherapy	0.9	64.3	9.8	25

The therapeutic options are clarified: “Option A: Insert a colorectal stent, with view to decompressive surgery in 5–10 days; Option B: Insert a colorectal stent regardless of whether the patient may have subsequent surgery or not; Option C: Send patient to the operating room for urgent decompressive surgery; Option D: Observe patient’s symptoms for 24–48 hours with nasogastric suction.”