Implantation of self-expanding esophageal metal stents for palliation of malignant dysphagia.

Eleven self-expanding metal stents were perorally implanted in ten patients with locally advanced malignant obstruction of the esophagus. After bougienage of the strictures, the stents were painlessly inserted and properly released by means of an 18 French gauge delivery catheter. In all cases, the endoprostheses expanded to a diameter of 14-20 mm and achieved immediate improvement of dysphagia. One perforation was seen after a single session of dilatation and subsequent stent insertion. No other early complication was observed. After a median follow-up of 74 days (Range, 33-252 days), one of eight patients is still alive and 7 died of non-procedural causes. The grade of dysphagia improved from a mean of 2.9 to a mean of 1.6 and 2.0, respectively, depending on the follow-up period (scale 0-4). Esophageal reobstruction occurred in four patients due to food impaction (two patients) or tumor ingrowth into the stent through the wire mesh (two patients). Recanalisation of the obstructed stent lumen was achieved by endoscopic irrigation (two patients), laser therapy only (one patient) or diathermia with subsequent insertion of a conventional plastic endoprosthesis into the metal stent (one patient). The initial results are promising. The delivery system, the wide-bore diameter, the macroporous configuration and the low mass of the self-expanding stents would seem to be associated with a less traumatic insertion procedure and a lower rate of stent migration as compared with conventional prostheses. Technical improvement may be required for prevention of tumor infiltration. Controlled trials are warranted to determine the future role of metallic stents for palliation of esophagocardial tumors.