ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of covered metallic stents in the management of proximal esophageal strictures.Methods Retrievable covered self-expanding metallic stents were inserted individually in 43 patients with malignant strictures of the proximal esophagus.Main outcome measures included improvement of dysphagia,sealing of fistula and complications were evaluated.Results A total of 45 stents were placed in 43 patients,with a success rate of 95.6％ (43/45) at the first stent placement attempt.The dysphagia score improved significantly from 3.3 ± 0.6 to 1.8 ± 0.9 (P ＜ 0.001),with 18 having an excellent response and 25 having a good response.Improvement rate of dysphagia was 95.6％ (43/45).Fistula sealing was achieved in 7 of 9 patients (77.8％).Early complications included severe pain (n =5),mediastinal emphysema (n =1),moderate fever (n =9) and collapse of the proximal end of the stent (n =1),while late complications included migration (n =3) and tissue overgrowth (n =6).Conclusion Retrievable covered metallic stent placement is effective and safe for the palliation of obstructive dysphagia and sealing of fistulas in malignant proximal esophageal strictures.