The management of esophageal strictures by using self-expanding metallic stents

Abstract

Esophageal stents are an important tool for palliative treatment of inoperable or recurrent esophageal cancer; and broncho-esophageal fistula; to bypass refractory benign stenosis. Our work aims are to study the indication of self-expanding metallic stents for esophageal strictures, as well as the challenges, and complications of their placement. Between May 2016 and November 2019, 10 esophageal stents placement procedures were performed on 9 patients. The placement of the esophageal stent was performed by using a guidewire. Radioscopic control has been systematically carried out, and all patients were monitored 24 hours after the procedure. Nine patients were included in this study, 77.7% (n=7) were male and 22.3% (n=2), were female, the average age was 54 years (18-67 years). All stents have been successfully placed. The average follow-up for the procedures was 24 weeks. 33.33% (n=3) of the patients had a stent migration treated by the placement of another stent in 11.1% (n=1). No stent occlusion and no complications were noted. The food recovery was again possible in all cases. The evolution was marked by the death in 33.3 % (n=3), fistula closure in 22.2% (n= 2) and persistent of stricture in 11.1% (n=1). Esophageal stents remain an important tool for the management of malignant esophageal diseases and refractory benign esophageal stricture. The simplicity and the functional success of the majority of cases, make them highly recommended as palliative treatment, as the success rate in our study was 66.7% (n=7).