Endoscopic Placement of Metal Stent in Patients With Cancer-Related Bowel Obstruction

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Endoscopically confirmed localized tumor as the cause of colonic obstruction

All primary tumor types are eligible
No prior colonic Wallstents

Must have symptoms of gastrointestinal obstruction, including:

Inability to move bowels, absence of flatus, nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain, or diarrhea

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

ECOG 0-3

Life expectancy:

Not specified

Hematopoietic:

Platelet count greater than 50,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

INR no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

Not specified

Cardiovascular:

No cardiac condition

Other:

Not pregnant or nursing
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
No significant active infection (e.g., pneumonia, peritonitis, wound abscess) that would preclude endoscopy
No other serious concurrent illness
No uncontrolled metabolic disease (e.g., diabetes or hypothyroidism)
No dementia, psychiatric disorder, or altered mental status that would preclude compliance
History of other neoplastic disease allowed
Veterans Administration patients are not eligible

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

Not specified

Chemotherapy:

Prior or concurrent chemotherapy allowed

Endocrine therapy:

Not specified

Radiotherapy:

Prior or concurrent radiotherapy allowed

Surgery:

At least 3 weeks since prior surgery and recovered