title: [Endoscopic palliation of dysphagia due to anastomotic recurrences after esophageal surgery and total gastrectomy due to carcinoma].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dysphagia is the main symptom of locally recurrent esophageal and gastric carcinoma and generally suggests extensive disease. The safety and efficacy of endoscopic palliation in patients who developed locally recurrent disease after surgery is evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six males and 12 females, with an average age of 63.5 years were included in the patients group. In 12 patients there was an esophago-gastric anastomosis, in 26 an esophago-jejunostomy, after total gastrectomy. Anastomotic recurrences were divided into predominantly polypoid (16 cases) and predominantly stenosing (22 cases). Three treatment modalities were employed: endoscopic dilation (6 cases), Nd-Yag laser therapy (16 cases) and prostheses (16 cases).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Successful endoscopic treatment was obtained in 33 out of 38 patients (86.8%). Major complications occurred in 5 patients (15%) with a mortality rate of 6%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The endoscopic palliation is effective. Technically, endoscopic treatment is easier to perform, with better results, when dealing with polypoid rather than stenosing recurrences.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Chirurgia dell'Apparato Digerente Servizio Centralizzato di Endoscopia Digestiva, Università degli Studi Federico II, Napoli.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: De Palma
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sivero
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galloro
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abbruzzese
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siciliano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richiello
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Catanzano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004106:Dilatation; D004724:Endoscopy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery*; D010166:Palliative Care; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*