To assess the treatment outcomes of patients with gastrointestinal obstruction due to colorectal cancer who underwent endoscopic treatment with the insertion of a self-expanding metal stent (SEMS).

Retrospective analysis of treatment outcomes in patients with gastrointestinal obstruction due to colorectal cancer who underwent an endoscopic treatment with the insertion of SEMS in the years 2018–2025 at the Department of General, Gastroenterological and Oncological Surgery, Collegium Medicum Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland.

In 128 patients with gastrointestinal obstruction due to colorectal cancer, endoscopic treatment with the insertion of SEMS was performed. In 56/128 (43.75%) patients, the procedure was palliative. In the remaining 72/128 (56.25%) patients, the endoscopic procedure served as a bridge to surgery. Technical success of the endoscopic procedure was achieved in 119/128 (92.97%) patients. Early complications, such as gastrointestinal perforation, were observed in 8/128 (6.25%) patients who required surgery. Clinical success was achieved in 104/128 (81.25%) patients. 11/128 (8.59%) patients required surgery due to persistent symptoms of gastrointestinal obstruction.

The use of SEMS for gastrointestinal obstruction associated with colon cancer reduces the frequency of urgent surgical procedures involving stoma formation. Furthermore, stenting of colonic obstruction provides a bridge to laparoscopic oncological treatment in some patients.