Palliation of malignant dysphagia with self expandable esophageal stents

Background: In this article, we report our experience with a self-expandable metalic and plastic stent in a consecutive series of patients with malignant dysphagia. Methods: Between May 2009 and August 2012, 43 patients (29 males, 14 females; mean age 65.4 years; range 39 to 87 years) with malignant esophageal stenoses, who underwent esophageal stent implementation in Thoracic Surgery Department of Erzurum Regional Training and Research Hospital were included in this study. The self expandable metalic stents (SEMS) was chosen in 38 patients with stenotic lesion which located middle and lower esophagus, and the self expandable plastic stents (SEPS) was chosen in five patient with fistula or upper esophageal localization. The mean follow-up was nine months (1 to 39 months). Four patients are live and has been under follow-up. Results: A total of 54 stents were placed in 43 patients. Forty-nine covered SEMSs were placed in 38 patients and five covered SEPSs were placed in five patients. Eight of the patients with middle and lower esophageal stenosis needed two covered SEMS and one with middle esophageal stenosis needed four covered SEMS. One patient died because of cardiac arrhythmia on the postoperative second day. A tracheoesophageal fistula developed four months after the SEMS implantation in another. All patients improved in oral food intake. Conclusion: Self expandable esophageal stents are effective palliation methods in patients with malignant dysphagia.