PALLIATIVE TREATMENT OF MALIGNANT OBSTRUCTION OF THE ESOPHAGUS WITH SELF-EXPANDING METAL STENTS

A total of 23 selfexpanding metal stents were implanted in 17 patients (12 men, 5 women; mean age 66 [44-83] years) with inoperable malignant obstruction of the oesophagus or the oesophago-gastric junction. A primary success was achieved in all, a good functional result in 16 (94%). There were no complications. In the follow-up period (mean of 15.2 +/- 13 weeks) re-obstruction by the tumour process occurred in three patients. Twelve patients died after a mean survival time of 15.8 +/- 14 weeks. In ten of these the stent was still patent at death, while two had again developed dysphagia. The cumulative patency rate of the stents was 79%. These observations indicate that selfexpanding metal stents can achieve satisfactory palliation in dysphagia due to a malignancy. The mortality and morbidity rates of the method seem to be less than those of other palliative measures.