RESUMO
32 modified silicone coated Giantuco-Rosch self-expanding metallic Z stents(4 Cook's production and 28 home-made)were perorally implanted in 21 patients with malignant esophageal stricture and 4 benign stenosis.All stents were placed under fluroscopic guidance without any technical failure or procedure morbility or mortality.24 to 48 hours after placement dysphagia was improvement in 25 patients,defined by a decrease of about 3 dysphagia grades,the mean dysphagia grade fell from 3.5 to 0.5,all patients could ingest solid of semi-solid food.Complications occurred in 6/25 patients,included stent migration(3),food impaction(2)tumor ingrowth(1)and mild chest pain in 7,22 patients wer still alive,and 3 died.All stents were patent at 1～7 months follow-up.Our observa- tions indicated that self-expanding metallic stents are easy to insert,safe and effective for palliative treatment of esophageal strictures and Esophago-respiratory fistulas.