title: Clinical application of metallic stents in treatment of esophageal carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) in patients with malignant esophageal obstruction and to analyze their prognosis and complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-four metallic stents were placed under fluoroscopic guidance in 66 patients with esophageal obstruction secondary to carcinoma, of whom, 6 cases were complicated by fistula.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After seventy-two stents were successfully used in 66 cases without any severe complications (technical successful rate was 97%), the dysphagia score improved from 3.3+/-0.6 to 0.8+/-0.5 (P<0.01), and life quality improved significantly in all these patients. All fistulae were sealed immediately after coated stents were inserted in the six patients. New stents were placed in two patients: the stent migrated more than 2 cm, in one patient and the stent slipped into stomach in the other. Minor bleeding was found only in 28 patients during the operation. Reobstruction was found in 12 patients, but was successfully cured under endoscopy. The survival rate was 78%, 57% and 11% for 6 mo, 1 year and 2 years respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Placement of SEMS is a simple, safe, quick and efficient surgical method for treating esophageal carcinoma obstruction. It may be used mainly as a palliative treatment of esophageal obstruction secondary to carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Sino-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130031, Jilin Province, China. jifs@mail.china.com
authors.forename: Hai-Shan
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Lin-Bo
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Tian-Wei
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yong-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D015607:Stents; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D008670:Metals