Self-expandable metal coil stents in the treatment of benign esophageal strictures refractory to conventional therapy: a case series.
BACKGROUND
Benign, refractory esophageal strictures are an important therapeutic challenge. Metallic self-expandable stents developed to treat malignant strictures have occasionally been used in the treatment of benign stenoses. This is a report of the use of 14 esophageal metallic stents in 10 patients with severe benign strictures.


METHODS
Ten patients with peptic, post-surgical, or post-radiation esophageal strictures were treated with metallic stents. All patients had previously been treated, unsuccessfully, by endoscopic dilatation. Their strictures, although benign, gave rise to the same problems as malignant ones.


RESULTS
In all patients, marked improvement of dysphagia was achieved with the use of metallic stents. They were inserted without early complications except for chest pain in one patient. Late complications were proximal and distal migration (in three patients) and a proximal stricture in one other patient. The best results were achieved in post-radiation strictures.


CONCLUSIONS
Metallic stents can be considered as a therapeutic alternative in selected patients with severe benign esophageal strictures refractory to conventional treatment.
Department of Endoscopy, Hospital de Gastroenterologia, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
A
A
Fiorini
D
D
Fleischer
J
J
Valero
E
E
Israeli
D
D
Wengrower
E
E
Goldin
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008670:Metals