title: [Self-expanding oesophageal stents: comparison of Ultraflex and Choostent].
abstract: Two types of covered self-expanding metal stents were compared in a consecutive series of 57 patients. Stent placement was successful in all patients. No procedure-related deaths were observed. The overall hospital morbidity was 7%. No significant differences in the efficacy of palliation of dysphagia, rate of complications, and survival rates were seen using the two types of stent. An endoscopic reintervention was required in 14% of the patients. Both stents proved to be safely removable in the short term follow-up, and the benefit of temporary insertion was documented in patients with primary oesophageal neoplasms prior to chemotherapy or chemoradiation therapy and in those with anastomotic strictures/leaks. A multidisciplinary strategy, guided by the concept that a stent should not represent the only, definitive treatment modality, may improve the quality of life of patients with advanced oesophageal carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra e UO di Chirurgia Generale, Università degli Studi di Milano, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Milano.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bona
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laface
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siboni
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schaffer
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baldoli
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sironi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sorba
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonavina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004867:Equipment Design; D004937:Esophageal Fistula / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000209:etiology; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects; D016019:Survival Analysis