Comparison of outcome of rigid and self-expanding stents for palliation of malignant dysphagia

Abstract

Between 1984 and 2019, 1005 rigid prostheses and 423 self-expanding stents were inserted for palliation of malignant esophageal stenosis. The aim of this study was the comparison of the treatment results using the two types of prosthesis. Retrospective analysis has been performed comparing the characteristics and treatment results of the two patients groups referring to the technical success of the procedures, procedure-related complications, change in the quality of life, and survival time. A comparison of average ages, duration time of dysphagia, quantity of weight loss, and the progress of the malignancy proves that palliation with self-expanding stents made it possible to treat more patients in worse condition. The number of complications in the patient group treated with stents was significantly higher at 29.3%/20.9%. Endoscopic intervention was performed to treat complications in 68.6% of cases with rigid prostheses and in 53.2% of patients treated with stents. Relevant improvement of dysphagia and the patients' quality of life was observed in 97% of those who were treated with a rigid prosthesis and in 91.3% of those who were treated with self-expanding stents. The survival time in the group of patients treated with stents was significantly shorter by 4.3/5.4 months than in the other group. The use of self-expanding stents in palliative treatment of malignant strictures have brought significant changes in everyday practice with increasing the possibilities. The treatment results were not improved by their application as much as the worse condition of the patient group worsened them. Orv Hetil. 2022; 163(49): 1952-1961.