Palliative esophageal stent placement using endoscopic guidance without fluoroscopy.
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.
Ben Soussan
Emmanuel
E
Digestive Tract Research Group, Rouen University hospital Charles Nicolle, 76031 Rouen Cedex. Emmanuel.ben-soussan@chu-rouen.fr
Antonietti
Michel
M
Lecleire
Stéphane
S
Savoye
Guillaume
G
Di Fiore
Frédéric
F
Paillot
Bernard
B
Michel
Pierre
P
Ducrotté
Philippe
P
Lerebours
Eric
E
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