title: Palliative esophageal stent placement using endoscopic guidance without fluoroscopy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fluoroscopy is not available in every endoscopic unit. This situation leads to delays in treatment or to transfer of patients to other centres for stent insertion. We assessed safety and effectiveness of expandable esophageal metal stent placement under endoscopic control without fluoroscopy using a thin gastroscope.
  
  
  METHODS
  From October 2002 to June 2004, thirty-three consecutive patients have been included for esophageal stent placement under endoscopic control alone with a nasogastroscope (5.9 mm). A proximal release covered stent (Ultraflex; Boston Scientific Microvasive) was used. Indications were malignant esophageal stricture (N = 26), malignant extrinsic compression (N = 2 ) and esophago-respiratory neoplastic fistulae (N = 5).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stent placement using endoscopic control alone was successful in 30/33 (90%) patients. Complications occurred in 11 patients. Early complications (<7 days) included one death from pulmonary embolism, severe retrosternal pain needing transient morphinic treatment (N = 2) and GERD despite antisecretory therapy (N = 1). Late complications included: food impaction (N = 1), tumour overgrowth-related obstruction of the stent (N = 5) and one late esophago-respiratory fistula at 4 months at the proximal end of the stent. Relief of dysphagia was obtained for all patients at 48 hours and dysphagia score decreased from 3.1 before stent to 1.2 at 1 month (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expandable esophageal stents can be accurately and safely placed using endoscopy with a thin gastrosocope. This method obviates the requirement of fluoroscopic access, lacking in many centres, and avoids exposure to X-ray.
authors.affiliation: Digestive Tract Research Group, Rouen University hospital Charles Nicolle, 76031 Rouen Cedex. Emmanuel.ben-soussan@chu-rouen.fr
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ben Soussan
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Antonietti
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lecleire
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Savoye
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Fiore
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Paillot
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ducrotté
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lerebours
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004937:Esophageal Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D016156:Respiratory Tract Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D015607:Stents