Esophageal stents may interfere with the swallowing reflex: an illustrative case history.
Dysphagia is an important and distressing symptom which has a significant impact on the quality of life of patients with carcinoma of the esophagus. Although endoscopic palliation of dysphagia due to unresectable or recurrent esophageal carcinoma can be provided by esophageal dilatation and intubation, laser ablation, injection of alcohol or sclerosants, or brachytherapy, these techniques are often unsuitable for the palliation of high esophageal tumors. We present a patient with recurrent carcinoma of the proximal esophagus who developed an inability to swallow as a complication of intubation with an esophageal stent. The dysphagia improved dramatically after the stent was removed.
Lee
A
A
Department of Palliative Medicine, Bristol Oncology Centre, United Kingdom.
Forbes
K
K
D000368:Aged; D003679:Deglutition; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012018:Reflex; D015607:Stents