
“I think it’s essential that people keep signing up to these type of trials to push research forward.”
Please note - this trial is no longer recruiting patients. We hope to add results when they are available.
This study is for people whose bowel cancer is causing a blockage (bowel obstruction).
Stents are used to treat obstruction in people whose bowel cancer cannot be cured by surgery, or in people who are not fit enough for surgery.
The stent is a metal mesh tube. It pushes back the blockage allowing faeces and wind to pass through the bowel normally.
The mesh tubes are usually uncovered. This trial is comparing standard uncovered stents with covered stents. Both types of stent are made of wire mesh but the covered stents have a fabric coating. This study aims to find out:
The following bullet points list the entry conditions for this study. Talk to your doctor or the study team if you are unsure about any of these. They will be able to advise you.
You may be able to join this study if you are over 16, and any of the following apply. You:
You cannot join this study if any of these apply. You:
This is a randomised trial. It will recruit about 350 people from across the UK.
If you decide to take part in this study the type of stent you get will be decided by chance. Neither you nor your doctor will be able to decide which group you are in:
Quality of life questionnaires
You are asked to complete some questionnaires before your treatment and afterwards. They ask about side effects and how you are feeling. These are called quality of life questionnaires.
You complete questionnaires before your stenting procedure and the following points afterwards:
The quality of life questionnaire may also be sent directly to your home.
Your bowel blockage will have shown on a CT scan, or another test such as a contrast enema.
The stenting procedure happens in the x-ray department or endoscopy suite. You have a drug to make you sleepy (sedative) before the procedure.
Usually you stay in hospital overnight and might go home the next day if your bowels are working normally.
Follow up
The trial team would like to see how you feel about your life for two years after your stent is placed. This may be when you attend Outpatients appointments.
Depending on the centre you attend, you may have an outpatient appointment 4 weeks after your procedure, and every 3 months for year 1.
Outpatient appointments may be every 6 months in the second year after you have your stent.
You will not need to attend any additional appointments. Questionnaires are posted to your home address if you are not due to attend an outpatient appointment.
Complications of stenting can include:
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Professor James Hill
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme
University of Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit
Freephone 0808 800 4040
“I think it’s essential that people keep signing up to these type of trials to push research forward.”