Efficacy and Safety of Fully Covered Self-Expanding Metal Stents for Malignant Esophageal Obstruction

Malignant dysphagia can result in poor nutritional status with severe weight loss. Rapid relief from dysphagia can be achieved with esophageal self-expanding metal stents (SEMSs), a minimally invasive method. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of SEMSs for malignant dysphagia.

Between 2012 and 2015, 119 patients with malignant dysphagia underwent esophageal SEMS insertion with endoscopic assistance. Their demographics and clinical outcomes were collected. Factors associated with stent-related complications and patient survival were evaluated. All data were retrospectively analyzed.

The mean age of the 119 patients was 64.9 ± 11.6 years, and 25 (21%) were female. Seventy-five patients (63.0%) had squamous carcinoma, majority of which were located in the lower thoracic esophagus (n = 42), followed by middle thoracic esophagus (n = 19) and upper esophagus (n = 10). Eighty patients (67.2%) underwent SEMS insertion at diagnosis. Technical and clinical success rates were 99.2 and 89.9%, respectively. Complications occurred in 47 patients (39.5%); the most common complication was migration (36.3%), followed by pain and obstruction. The median stent patency time was 145 days (95% confidence interval 55.19–234.81 days). Gastric cancer (odds ratio 3.51, 95% confidence interval 1.21–10.15; p = 0.021) and a 20-mm-wide stent (odds ratio 2.922, 95% confidence interval 1.237–6.904; p = 0.015) were risk factors for complications.

SEMSs are effective in palliation of malignant dysphagia. However, stent-related complications should be borne in mind, particularly in patients with gastric cancer with esophageal invasion and with larger width stents.