Clinical application of expandable stent for benign and malignant esophageal obstruction / 中国微创外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the clinical application of self-expanding nitinol stent in benign and malignant esophageal obstruction as well as in postoperative anastomotic stenosis and anastomotic leakage. Methods 22 cases of benign or malignant esophageal stenosis were treated by placing metallic stents inserted into the stenosis segment through per-oral intubation under the fluoroscopic guidance. Results The degreee of dysphagia was improved, Stooler′s staging of dysphagia was down from 3.1 preoperatively to 1.2 postoperatively. 2 cases of anastomotic leakage and 1 case of esophagorespiratory fistula were cured. All have been followed up for one to twelve months. 3 cases died with carcinoma cachexia and one succumbed to severe hemorrahage of digestive tract. The other 18 cases are still followed up. Conclusions Placement of esophageal expandable stent is one of the ideal methods to treat benign and malignant esophageal stenosis and anastomotic leakage. It can also play an important role in the improvement of the patients' life quality and prolongation of life.