title: Limitations of laser treatment for malignant dysphagia.
abstract: Of 86 patients with inoperable malignant dysphagia, 68 (79 per cent) underwent successful palliation by endoscopic laser therapy, of whom 24 remained well palliated until the time of death. In 18 patients laser treatment was unsuccessful and nine of these underwent intubation, eight successfully. After successful laser therapy, dysphagia recurred in 44 patients a mean of 7.8 weeks later. Of these, 31 received palliation until death by dilatation with or without laser therapy, and 13 required intubation. The overall laser-related complication rate was 12 per cent with a mortality rate of 4 per cent. The intubation-related mortality rate was 9 per cent.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shmueli
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Myszor
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Record
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matthewson
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome