EUS - Guided Balloon-occluded Gastrojejunostomy Bypass

Surgical gastrojejunostomy is the conventional treatment for palliating patients suffering from of inoperable malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). Although, the procedure is associated with a high success and low re-intervention rates, there is a risk of morbidities (10% - 16%) and mortalities (7%). The placement of a pyloro-duodenal self-expandable metallic stent (DSEMS) is an alternative to surgery for the palliating these patients. As compared to surgery, the procedure is associated with shorter hospital stay, reduced morbidities and cost. However, the clinical efficacy of DSEMS is limited by several problems. In uncovered DSEMS, the long-term patency is reduced by tumor ingrowth leading to subsequent re-stenosis. In covered DSEMS, stent migration occurs at a frequency of 14 - 25% and it is a major obstacle to stent patency. As a result, randomized trials comparing uncovered DSEMS and partially or fully covered DSEMS in patients with malignant GOO have reported comparable stent patency between the two types of stents. Recently, the creation of a gastrojejunostomy under EUS (EUS-GJ) guidance using lumen-apposing stents has been described 12-16. The procedure was associated with a technical success rate of around 90% and clinical success of 85% to 100%. The procedure holds the potential to create a gastrojejunostomy without surgery. Furthermore, there is a low risk of tumor ingrowth and stent migration, thus improving the stent patency and reducing the need of re-intervention. However, there is limited data on how EPASS compares to endoscopic stenting. The aim of the current study is thus to compare prospective data on EPASS versus a historical group that received DSEMS.