ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Chirurgica 1999 April;54(4):213-8

Copyright © 1999 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Palliative treatment of dysphagia secondary to esophageal-cardial cancer with self-expanding metal stents. Personal experience with 92 patients

De Palma G. D., Sivero L., Galloro G., Siciliano S., Pigna F., Catanzano C.

Background. Endoscopic insertion of a stent is an important option in the palliative management of esophageal obstruction and esophagorespiratory fistula. Plastic stents have been available for over 20 years. A new class of self-expanding metal stents for palliation of esophageal and cardial cancer is now available.
Methods. Between September 1992 and October 1997, 92 patients underwent implantation of self-expanding metal stents for palliation of dysphagia due to inoperable esophageal or cardial cancer (65 patients) or for locally recurrent carcinoma after surgery (12 patients), laser-therapy (11 patients) or radiotherapy (4 patients).
Results. Successful stent implantation was achieved in 89/92 patients (96.7%). After stent implantation the dysphagia score improved from 3.0, on average, to 0.5, on average. Early complications were observed in 4.5% and peroperative mortality was 2.1%. Late complications were observed in 25.6%, with a mortality rate of 1.1%. The mean survival time was 6.9 months.
Conclusions. Self-expanding metal stents are a new effective alternative for palliation of dysphagia due to esophageal and cardial cancers.