Malignant esophageal-tracheobronchial strictures: parallel placement of covered retrievable expandable nitinol stents

Purpose: To assess the safety and clinical effectiveness of the parallel placement of covered retrievable expandable metallic stents in the palliative treatment of malignant esophageal and tracheobronchial strictures.

Material and Methods: Under fluoroscopic guidance, parallel stents were placed in 12 symptomatic patients with both malignant esophageal and tracheobronchial strictures. Seven of these 12 patients also had an esophagorespiratory fistula (ERF) and one patient had an esophagocutaneous fistula. Technical success, clinical improvement, complications, and survival rates were evaluated.

Results: A total of 28 esophageal and airway stents were successfully placed. The grade of dysphagia and dyspnea score significantly decreased after stent placement (P = 0.002 and 0.003, respectively). ERF and esophagocutaneous fistula were sealed off in all eight patients after esophageal stent placement; however, the esophagocutaneous fistula reopened 1 month later. Complications included stent migration or expectoration (n = 3), tracheal compression by the esophageal stent (n = 3), new fistula development due to covering membrane degradation of the esophageal stent (n = 1), and symptomatic sputum retention (n = 1). Stent removal was easily performed for two stents; one migrated stent and the other with covering membrane degradation. All 12 patients died within the mean survival period of 72.50 days (range 7-375 days).

Conclusion: Parallel placement of covered retrievable expandable metallic stents is safe and effective for the palliative treatment of malignant esophageal and tracheobronchial strictures.     

Palliative treatment of inoperable malignant esophageal strictures with conically shaped covered self-expanding stents

Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of conically shaped covered self-expanding (Flamingo) stents in palliative treatment of malignant esophagogastric strictures in terms of patency, improved dysphagia score and survival.Material and Methods: Flamingo stents were placed under fluoroscopic guidance between August 1998 and December 1999 for palliation of malignant dysphagia in 33 cases. There were 21 males and 12 females aged 40-80 years (average 64.2 years).Results: Stent placement was successful in all patients, with good symptomatic control and no procedure-related complications. Spontaneous esophago-respiratory fistula and perforation accompanying malignant esophageal stricture in a total of 4 cases (12.2%) were successfully closed. In 1 case, tumor ingrowth was detected from the distal uncovered segment of the stent. In 2 cases with esophago-respiratory fistula, gastrointestinal bleeding occurred. The cause of hemorrhage could not be found by angiography. The mean survival time in 17 patients, later deceased, was 129 days (range 9-360), and the mean observation time in 16 patients still alive is 180 days (range 18-365).Conclusion: Flamingo stents provide an effective and safe choice of palliative therapy in inoperable malignant esophagogastric strictures.     

老年食管恶性狭窄金属内支架植入的姑息性治疗

目的　探讨金属内支架置入治疗老年食管恶性狭窄的疗效。方法　本组 2 8例 ,男 17例 ,女 11例 ,年龄 61～ 78岁。在X线电视透视下 ,对狭窄部位扩张后 ,共置入支架 2 8枚。结果　所有病人的支架留置均获成功 ,患者的生活质量均得到提高。结论　金属内支架植入术是治疗老年食管恶性狭窄的有效的姑息性治疗。     

国产金属内支架置入治疗良恶性食管狭窄(附25例分析)

目的 :采用国产金属内支架置入治疗良恶性食管狭窄。方法 :2 5例良恶性食管狭窄患者 ,均在 X线监视下 ,经口将导丝安全通过狭窄段 ,行球囊扩张后置入金属支架。结果 :全部病例均顺利置入支架 ,不仅有效地缓解了进食困难 ,改善了营养状况 ,同时还使食管气管瘘及食管纵隔瘘患者瘘口封闭 ,为其减轻感染及进一步治疗造成狭窄的原发病提供了时机。结论 :食管内支架置入术是治疗良恶性食管狭窄的一种安全有效地方法、应用国产金属内支架 ,既可减轻患者经济负担 ,又可达到进口支架同样的效果而成首选。     

食管支架治疗食管良恶性狭窄：附23例分析

作者总结了采用２７根镍钛合金Ｕｌｔｒａｆｌｅｘ食管支架置入术治疗各种良恶性食管狭窄２３例。其中食管化学烧伤后狭窄１例，食管－胃吻合口狭窄６例，食管和／或贲门癌１６例。将吞咽困难分为０￣３级。２３例中，３级１２例，２级１１例。经治疗后，０级１３例（５６．５２％），１级６级（２６．０８％），２级３例（１３．０４％），３级１例（４．３５％）。其中，２级中的３例治疗前为３级，因此，总有效率为９５．６６％。     

Palliative Airway Stenting Performed Under Radiological Guidance and Local Anesthesia

Purpose To assess the effectiveness of airway stenting performed exclusively under radiological guidance for the palliation of malignant tracheobronchial strictures. Methods We report our experience in 16 patients with malignant tracheobronchial stricture treated by insertion of 20 Ultraflex self-expandable metal stents performed under fluoroscopic guidance only. Three patients presented dysphagia grade IV due to esophageal malignant infiltration; they therefore underwent combined airway and esophageal stenting. All the procedures were performed under conscious sedation in the radiological room; average procedure time was around 10 min, but the airway impediment never lasted more than 40 sec. Results We obtained an overall technical success in 16 cases (100%) and clinical success in 14 patients (88%). All prostheses were successfully placed without procedural complications. Rapid clinical improvement with symptom relief and normalization of respiratory function was obtained in 14 cases. Two patients died within 48 hr from causes unrelated to stent placement. Two cases (13%) of migration were observed; they were successfully treated with another stent. Tumor overgrowth developed in other 2 patients (13%); however, no further treatment was possible because of extensive laryngeal infiltration. Conclusions Tracheobronchial recanalization with self-expandable metal stents is a safe and effective palliative treatment for malignant strictures. Airway stenting performed exclusively under fluoroscopic view was rapid and well tolerated.     

老年食管癌的金属支架姑息性治疗

目的 评价带膜食管支架在老年食管癌患者姑息治疗中的疗效。方法 ３２例带膜食管支架均在Ｘ线电视监视下置入,置入支架前不同球囊扩张狭窄段,直接将置入器沿导丝插送病变段并释放支架。结果 ３２例均一次置入支架成功,成功率１００％。支架置入后所有患者吞咽困难症均改善。无与支架置入术有关的严重并发症发生。平均生存期６．５个月。结论应用带膜食管支架对老年食管癌患者进行姑息性治疗,能有效地缓解食管梗阻症状,改善患     

Self-expandable metal stents in the management of cervical oesophageal and/or hypopharyngeal strictures

AIM: To assess the usefulness of self-expandable metal stents in the recanalization of cervical and/or hypopharyngeal strictures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report our experience in 10 patients with inoperable cervical and/or hypopharyngeal strictures treated by implantation of 11 uncovered self-expandable metal stents inserted perorally under fluoroscopic guidance. The stent was placed in the hypopharynx and cervical oesophagus in 3 patients and cervical oesophagus alone in 7. There were 8 men and 2 women, mean age 70.2 years, range 45-85 years. All patients but two had malignant stricture caused by squamous cell carcinoma, in one case there was a benign postoperative stenosis secondary to laryngectomy, and in the last patient a local recurrence from thyroid cancer. RESULTS: Eleven stents were placed in 10 patients: technical success was achieved in 9 cases while clinical improvement was obtained in 8 cases. Seven of ten patients had a rapid improvement of dysphagia. One patient had a distal misplacement of the prosthesis, while in the other two cases stent position was very proximal and interfered with swallowing. A mean 9-month follow-up was obtained (range 3-24 months). Four patients with malignant stricture developed proliferation of neoplastic tissue after 2-5 months. The only patient treated for a benign stricture developed inside proliferation of granulation tissue after 4 months. CONCLUSION: Despite several technical difficulties and a high rate of late complications, recanalization of cervical oesophageal strictures by self-expandable metal stents allowed good palliation of symptoms. Stents proved to be effective and well tolerated palliative treatment also for hypopharyngeal stenoses.     

Fluoroscopically guided placement of a covered self-expandable metallic stent for malignant antroduodenal obstructions: preliminary results in 18 patients

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the technical feasibility and the clinical effectiveness of fluoroscopically guided placement of covered self-expandable metallic stents in the treatment of malignant antroduodenal obstructions. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: With fluoroscopic guidance, covered self-expandable metallic stents were placed in 18 consecutive patients with inoperable malignant antroduodenal obstructions. All patients were treated for severe nausea and recurrent vomiting. RESULTS: Stent placement was technically successful in all patients with or without gastrostomy (n = 2) and balloon dilatation (n = 3). After stent placement, symptoms improved in all but one patient, who had another stenosis in the proximal jejunum. During the follow-up of 2-73 weeks (mean, 12 weeks), stent migration occurred in three patients (16.7%) from 1 to 41 days after the procedure. These patients were treated successfully by means of placing a second covered metallic stent. Two patients, who were followed up for longer than 30 weeks, showed a recurrence of strictures because of mechanical failure of the stents; one of the patients was treated with coaxial placement of a second covered metallic stent, which had a positive clinical outcome. CONCLUSION: Fluoroscopically guided placement of covered self-expandable metallic stents is technically feasible and effective for the palliative treatment of inoperable malignant antroduodenal obstructions. The rate of stent migration in our study was lower than those in previous reports.     

Treatment of malignant dysphagia with nitinol stents

Self-expanding nitinol stents were used in 22 patients for palliative treatment of malignant esophagogastric strictures. All patients but 5 were men (age range 47–75 years). The strictures were caused by squamous cell carcinoma (n = 12), adenocarcinoma (n = 8), and recurrent anastomotic carcinoma (n = 2). No technical failure or procedural complications occurred. After the procedure, the severity of dysphagia decreased at least one grade in all patients. Tumor ingrowth into the stent was seen in 7 patients of 22 (32%). Four of these patients were treated with additional stents, and in 3 patients, due to refusal, only balloon dilations were performed, which caused temporary relief. Tumor ingrowth into the stent was noted from 10 days to 7 months (mean 3 months). This seems to be a disadvantage of nitinol stents. At the end of the study 10 patients had died dead with a mean survival of 3 months (range 1 week to 6 months) and 12 patients were still alive with a mean follow-up of 4 months (range 1–8 months). It is concluded that nitinol stents provide satisfactory palliation in patients with malignant dysphagia with neglectable procedural morbidity and mortality rates.     

镍钛记忆合金食管内支架治疗食管疾病的临床研究

作者应用镍钛记忆合金食管内支架治疗各类食管疾病共９例，置入支加前吞咽困难Ｃｗｉｋｉｅｌ分级均达２－３组，置入后立即缓解，Ｃｗｉｋｉｅｌ０－１级者为１００％。全组病例除有异物感及轻微胸背疼痛外，无严重并发症发生。     

Nitinol Esophageal Stents: New Designs and Clinical Indications

Purpose To evaluate the clinical use of covered and noncovered, knitted nitinol stents in patients presenting new stent indications. Methods Self-expandable, knitted nitinol stents were implanted in four patients for treatment of dysphagia. In two patients who had malignant strictures and had esophago-respiratory fistulae and in one patient with an esophagocutaneous fistula, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-covered stents were implanted. One patient received a noncovered stent, but a retrograde approach through a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) fistula had to be chosen for recanalization of an esophageal occulusion. Two patients received stents for treatment of benign strictures. Results Recanalization of the stricture and stent implantation were performed under fluoroscopic control without any procedure-related morbidity or mortality. Dysphagia improved in all patients and the esophageal fistulae could be sealed off by covered stents. During a maximum follow-up of 18 months, there was no stent migration or esophageal perforation. Complications observed were stent stenosis due to food impaction (1/4) and benign stent stenosis (2/2). Most complications could be treated by the interventional radiologist. Conclusion Self-expandable, covered Nitinol stents provide an option for the treatment of dysphagia combined with esophageal fistulae. In combination with interventional radiology techniques, even complex strictures are accessible. For benign strictures, the value of stent treatment has not yet been proven.     

Retrievable covered nitinol stents: experiences in 108 patients with malignant esophageal strictures

PURPOSE: The authors report their experience with three types of retrievable covered nitinol stents in patients with malignant esophageal strictures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three types of retrievable covered nitinol stents were designed. Type A stents were placed in 45 patients, type B stents were placed in 29 patients, and type C stents were placed in 34 patients. The stents were removed with use of a stent retrieval set under fluoroscopic guidance when the stents caused complications. Stent patency, symptom relief, survival rate, and complications were analyzed relative to stent type and radiation therapy. RESULTS: The timing of radiation and the stent type have significant effects on occurrence of complications such as stent migration and fistula formation (P =.002 and P = 0.029, respectively). Complications were significantly more frequent in patients with the type B stent than those with type A or type C stents (P =.008). Patients who underwent radiation therapy before stent placement or who underwent no radiation therapy experienced substantially less complications than those who underwent radiation therapy after stent placement (P =.005 and P <.001, respectively). The survival period was significantly longer in patients who underwent radiation therapy after stent placement than in the other groups (P =.034). Stents were removed from 15 patients (14%) 2 days to 16 weeks (mean, 4 weeks) after stent placement as a result of severe pain (n = 7), stent migration (n = 6), or stent deformity (n = 2). Stent removal was well tolerated in all patients. CONCLUSION: Use of retrievable covered nitinol stents seems to be a safe and effective method of treatment in patients with malignant esophageal strictures. However, removal of the stents was needed in 14% of the patients because of complications. Patients who underwent radiation therapy after stent placement and those with the type B stent experienced more complications than other patients.     

Intraureteral metallic endoprosthesis in the treatment of ureteral strictures

OBJECTIVE: We report our experience on intraureteral metallic stents placement for the treatment of malignant and benign ureteral strictures. METHODS: Eight patients (six men and two women) with inoperable malignant or benign ureteral strictures, underwent insertion of metallic stents through percutaneous tracts. Six lesions (three malignant, three benign) involved ureterointestinal anastomoses after cystectomy for bladder cancer and ureteroileal urinary diversion or bladder substitution, and two malignant lesions involved the midureter. Self-expandable stents were used in seven cases and a balloon-expandable stent in the remaining one case. One stent was sufficient in seven ureters, and in one ureter, two overlapping stents were placed. RESULTS: Metallic stents were inserted without technical difficulties in all obstructed ureters and patency was achieved in all patients. Ultrasonography revealed resolution of pre-existing hydronephrosis. The duration of follow-up was 6-17 months (mean, 9 months). One ureter was occluded 8 months after stent placement because of ingrowth of tumor and granulation tissue. The other ureters showed no signs of obstruction during follow-up. No major complications directly attributable to the metallic stent occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that insertion of a metallic stent in the ureter is feasible and safe for the treatment of benign or malignant ureteral strictures. However, more work needs to be done to establish the use of these stents for the treatment of ureteral obstruction.     

Covered metallic stent placement in the management of cervical esophageal strictures

PURPOSE: To describe the authors' experience with self-expandable covered metallic stents in 16 patients with malignant and benign cervical esophageal strictures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen expandable covered metallic stents were placed with fluoroscopic guidance in 16 patients (14 men, two women; mean age, 60 years; age range, 26-75 years) with malignant and benign strictures of the cervical esophagus. The causes of strictures were ingestion of corrosive agents (n = 3), biopsy-proved squamous cell carcinoma (n = 12), and postsurgical scarring (n = 1). The mean dysphagia scores at presentation were compared with those after stent placement by using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: Stent placement was technically successful in all patients. The reduction in the mean dysphagia score after stent placement was statistically significant (P = .0327). All patients complained of mild to severe foreign body sensation, with four reporting severe pain necessitating immediate stent removal. With the exception of one patient with limited follow-up, complications requiring intervention occurred in all patients, including migration in nine patients and tissue hyperproliferation in two. Of the 12 patients with a malignant stricture of the esophagus, four patients eventually underwent gastrostomy for the placement of a feeding tube and one patient underwent surgery. All four patients with a benign cervical stricture failed to achieve long-lasting improvement with temporary stent placement. CONCLUSIONS: Although the placement of covered metallic stents in the cervical esophagus provides adequate initial palliation, it is associated with poor patient tolerance and a high complication rate.     

Covered retrievable expandable nitinol stents in patients with benign esophageal strictures: initial experience

PURPOSE: To investigate the safety and clinical effectiveness of covered retrievable expandable nitinol stents in 25 patients with a benign esophageal stricture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Under fluoroscopic guidance, covered retrievable expandable nitinol stents were placed in 25 patients with a benign esophageal stricture and were removed with a retrieval hook 1-8 weeks later. RESULTS: Stent placement was successful in all patients, with no procedural complications. After stent placement, all patients could ingest solid food. The stents were successfully removed from all but two patients. One patient passed the stent via the rectum, and the other regurgitated a high cervical stent. After stent removal, one patient developed a small esophagobronchial fistula, which spontaneously sealed within 1 week of stent removal. After stent removal or migration, all patients could ingest solid food. During follow-up (mean, 13 months; range, 2-25 months) after stent removal or migration, 12 patients maintained their improvement in dysphagia and needed no further treatment. Thirteen patients with recurrence were treated by means of repeat balloon dilation. CONCLUSION: Use of retrievable expandable nitinol stents seems to be a safe and effective method of treatment in selected patients with benign esophageal strictures.     

Malignant Esophagogastric Junction Obstruction: Efficacy of Balloon Dilation Combined with Chemotherapy and/or Radiation Therapy

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of balloon dilation combined with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy for palliation of dysphagia due to malignant esophagogastric junction strictures. Methods: Fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation was attempted in 20 patients. The causes of strictures were gastric adenocarcinoma (n = 10) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (n = 10). Scheduled chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy followed balloon dilation in all patients. Results: There were no technical failures or major complications. After balloon dilation, 15 (75%) patients showed improvement of dysphagia. No patient complained of reflux esophagitis during the follow-up period. Among the 15 patients, seven needed no further treatment for palliation of dysphagia until their deaths. The remaining eight patients underwent repeat balloon dilation (n = 4) or stent placement (n = 4) 3–43 weeks (mean 15 weeks) after the initial balloon dilation because of recurrent dysphagia. Conclusion: Balloon dilation combined with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy seems to be an easy and reasonably effective palliative treatment for malignant esophagogastric strictures.     

被覆支架成形术在食管癌姑息治疗中的应用

为了对中晚期食管癌进行姑息治疗，作者采用涤纶被覆金属支架置入术对１６例食管癌患者进行了治疗，其中合并食管气管瘘者４例。支架的体部直径为１８ｍｍ或１２ｍｍ，支架两端直径是２２ｍｍ，支架体部和端部的连接处成钝角，以防止支架的移位。全部支架置入术均经口腔在Ｘ线监视下进行。所有病人的支架留置均获成功，未出现技术问题。在有食管气管瘘的４例中，支架置入后症状均得到缓解，所有病人的摄食能力均有不同程度地改善。食     

动脉灌注化疗及食管内支架治疗恶性食管狭窄

目的：用动脉管注化疗及食管内支架治疗恶性食管狭窄。方法：对８例食管癌患者分别置放ＷＡＬＬＳＴＥＮＴ,ＳＴＲＥＣＫ－ＥＲＳＴＥＮＴ及ＺＳＴＥＮＴ,共１０个支架,先用导丝探索通过狭窄段,经球囊扩张后置放支架。置放支架１周后行食管动脉管注化疗,１次／４～６周。结果：８例患者造影显示５例患者食管完全梗阻,３例患者严重狭窄。所有患者均一次顺利完成支架置放。３例分别随访１年,２例分别随访８个月及６个月。患者进普食顺利,疗效满意。２例半年后又出现吞咽困难。造影显示原支架上下两端又出现狭窄经第二次置放支架后进食顺利,疗效满意。８例共行供血动脉管注５０次。结论：食管内支架治疗恶性食管狭窄,安全,可靠,疗效好,并发症少。但必须配合动脉灌注化疗     

自膨式覆膜支架在食管、十二指肠恶性狭窄及瘘的临床应用

目的 评价食管、十二指肠恶性狭窄及瘘应用自膨式覆膜支架治疗的价值,探讨支架植入后常见的并发症及处理方法 .方法 87例上消化道狭窄或梗阻患者中,50例食管恶性狭窄,23例贲门-胃吻合口狭窄,5例胃、十二指肠恶性狭窄,3例食管瘘,6例食管吻合口瘘,共置入国产带膜网状支架95枚.结果 内支架置入全部一次成功,除1例患者术中急性出血外,余病例无即刻并发症,术后患者狭窄解除,饮食得到恢复,瘘道封闭,远期疗效与疾病性质和相关治疗情况有关.结论 自膨式覆膜支架治疗食管、十二指肠恶性狭窄及瘘疗效可靠,并发症少,术后加放疗和(或)化疗可进一步提高疗效.