title: Palliative treatment of neoplastic strictures by self-expanding nitinol Strecker stent.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate technical and clinical results of self-expanding esophageal stent implanted in patients with malignant esophageal strictures and clinically significant dysphagia. From June 1992 to September 1994, 27 patients with inoperable tumors of the esophagus or gastric cardiac were treated by placement of 37 self-expanding nitinol stents. Water-soluble contrast and endoscopy studies were performed after the procedure and during the follow-up period. Successful stenting of the stricture was achieved in 27 patients. The mean dysphagia grade dropped from 2.3 to 1 (SD +/- 0.54) immediately after the procedure. After the insertion of the stent, 16 patients died in a period of time ranging from 0 to 13 months (mean 5.6 months), whereas at the end of the study 11 patients were alive 4-15 months after the procedure (mean 8.3 months). No major complications were observed. The results of this study are encouraging because esophageal stent placement was technically easy and clinically effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pocek
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maspes
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masala
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Squillaci
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Assegnati
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moraldi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simonetti
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications; D000368:Aged; D000497:Alloys; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications; D002299:Cardia; D002404:Catheterization; D003287:Contrast Media; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004867:Equipment Design; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010166:Palliative Care; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012995:Solubility; D015607:Stents; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D015996:Survival Rate; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; D003287:Contrast Media; D014867:Water; C013616:nitinol