Temporary placement of self-expanding oesophageal stents as bridging for neo-adjuvant therapy.
BACKGROUND
Placement of self-expanding stents is an effective palliation for dysphagia in non-resectable oesophageal or proximal gastric cancer. The aim of this analysis was to assess the efficacy of temporary stent placement for dysphagia relief during neo-adjuvant treatment for locally advanced disease.


METHODS
A total of 38 patients scheduled for neo-adjuvant chemo(radio)therapy for locally advanced oesophageal cancer (n = 29), cardia cancer (n = 8) or subcardial gastric cancer (n = 1) underwent placement of self-expanding plastic stents (n = 13) or covered metal stents (n = 25) due to severe dysphagia and weight loss.


RESULTS
Instant dysphagia relief was achieved in 37 (97.4%) of 38 patients. Dysphagia scores declined from mean 3.0 +/- 0.7 before stent placement to 0.6 +/- 0.9 at restaging. After completion of the neo-adjuvant therapy 20 (52.6%) of the 38 patients underwent resection of the tumour, 5 patients (13.2%) underwent primary resection without receiving chemotherapy while 12 patients (31.6%) did not undergo surgery. Stent-related complications were observed as perforation (n = 1), mediastinitis (n = 1), tracheo-oesophageal fistula (n = 2), bleeding (n = 1) and jejunal perforation caused by a migrated stent (n = 1). Serum albumin significantly decreased in patients with progressive disease despite successful stenting (40.0 +/- 4.9 mg/dl versus 29.7 +/- 6.4 mg/dl, p < 0.05) while stable albumin levels were found in patients who underwent surgery (39.9 +/- 4.3 mg/dl versus 39.1 +/- 3.8 mg/dl, p = 0.484).


CONCLUSIONS
Placement of self-expanding stents is highly effective for instant dysphagia relief, enabling adequate oral nutrition during neo-adjuvant therapy, but is limited by a high re-intervention rate.
Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, General Hospital Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Felix B
FB
Langer
Sebastian F
SF
Schoppmann
Gerhard
G
Prager
Florian
F
Tomaselli
Ursula
U
Pluschnig
Michael
M
Hejna
Rainer
R
Schmid
Johannes
J
Zacherl
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002299:Cardia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D018307:Neoplasms, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D015607:Stents; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome