HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Darroch W. O. Moores Riivo Ilves Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Moores, D. W. O. Articles by Ilves, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Moores, D. W. O. Articles by Ilves, R. Related Collections Related Article

Ann Thorac Surg 1996;62:963-967
© 1996 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

---

Original Articles: General Thoracic

Treatment of Esophageal Obstruction With Covered, Self-Expanding Esophageal Wallstents

Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Albany Medical Center; and Department of Thoracic Surgery, St. Peter's Hospital, Albany, New York

Background. Conventional endoluminal plastic prostheses used for relieving esophageal obstruction allow variable palliation. Covered, expandable metal stents provide an 18-mm lumen to allow improved deglutition.

Methods. From December 1994 to December 1995, 20 patients underwent placement of self-expanding, silicone-covered Wallstents (Schneider, Plymouth, MN) for esophageal obstruction. Fifteen patients had obstruction secondary to carcinoma and 5 patients had benign esophageal stricture. There were 13 men and 7 women, ranging in age from 54 to 94 years. All patients underwent esophageal dilation using a flexible gastroscope and Savary bougies. After dilation to 42F or 45F, placement of the stent was performed under fluoroscopic control.

Results. Follow-up was complete in all patients, ranging from 4 weeks to 12 months. Technical success was achieved in all patients. There was one postoperative death (bronchoesophageal fistula) and one migration of the stent requiring removal (peptic stricture). The remaining stents were well tolerated, even in the cervical region (4 patients). All patients successfully intubated were able to eat well, including solid foods.

Conclusions. Covered, self-expanding esophageal Wallstents are technically simple and safe to insert and appear to provide durable, excellent palliation of esophageal obstruction due to either benign or malignant conditions. A larger patient population is required to make firm conclusions.

Related Article

Keeping an Open Mind While Restoring Esophageal Patency in Patients With Cancer and Esophagorespiratory Fistula

Donald E. Low
Ann. Thorac. Surg. 1996 62: 961-962. [Extract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. K. Freeman, A. J. Ascioti, and T. C. Wozniak Postoperative esophageal leak management with the Polyflex esophageal stent J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., February 1, 2007; 133(2): 333 - 338. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. A. Christie, P. O. Buenaventura, H. C. Fernando, N. T. Nguyen, T. L. Weigel, P. F. Ferson, and J. D. Luketich Results of expandable metal stents for malignant esophageal obstruction in 100 patients: short-term and long-term follow-up Ann. Thorac. Surg., June 1, 2001; 71(6): 1797 - 1802. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. De Groot, D. W. O. Moores, and R. Ilves Expandable Stents in Esophageal Malignancy Ann. Thorac. Surg., July 1, 1997; 64(1): 287 - 288. [Full Text]

				D. E. Low Keeping an Open Mind While Restoring Esophageal Patency in Patients With Cancer and Esophagorespiratory Fistula Ann. Thorac. Surg., October 1, 1996; 62(4): 961 - 962. [Full Text]