Comparative retrospective study on the use of plastic prostheses and self-expanding metal stents in the palliative treatment of malignant strictures of the esophagus and cardia

Delayed Bronchial Obstruction Following Esophageal Stent Implantation: A Case Report

Airway compression is a rare complication of esophageal stent placement. With the introduction of self-expanding metal stents, the incidence of bronchial obstruction by esophageal stents has decreased. Delayed external airway compression after esophageal stent implantation is rarely reported. We describe a case of left main bronchial obstruction after self-expandable esophageal stent placement. A 70-year-old patient with advanced esophageal cancer visited the emergency room (ER) with worsening cough and dyspnea. He had received palliative concurrent chemoradiotherapy after esophageal self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) insertion three months ago. One month before the ER visit, additional esophageal SEMS placement (stent-in-stent) was performed owing to the development of a tracheoesophageal fistula. After hospitalization, chest radiography revealed a patchy consolidation in the left lower lobe. A diagnosis of pneumonia was made, and the patient was treated with antibiotics. Seven days after antibiotic treatment, the patient developed a fever and severe dyspnea. Auscultation revealed the absence of breath sounds in the left hemithorax. A follow-up chest radiograph showed a white-out of the left hemithorax. Flexible bronchoscopy revealed luminal narrowing of the left main bronchus (LMB) due to external compression. Chest computed tomography further demonstrated compression of the LMB by esophageal stents. This case highlights that esophageal SEMS can present as an emergent and often life-threatening airway obstruction.

Complications after treating esophageal strictures with prostheses and stents - 20 years' experience

INTRODUCTION

Over 80% of patients with esophageal cancer are qualified only for palliative treatment. The main goal of the therapy is to eliminate symptoms of dysphagia.

AIM

To analyze complications after insertion of prostheses and stents in patients with inoperable cancer of the esophagus/cardia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

From 1996 to 2015 prostheses of the esophagus were implanted in 1309 patients. In the strictures of the lower part of the esophagus, Barbin-Mousseau prostheses (102 cases) and Häring prostheses (324 cases) were placed. In the strictures of the upper and middle part of the esophagus, Wilson-Cook prostheses (65 cases) and Sumi prostheses (51 cases) were implanted using rigid oesophagoscopy. Since 2001, 867 esophageal stents have been implanted.

RESULTS

Complications occurred in 146 (11%) patients, including 7 (0.6%) cases of death. The most common complication was the recurrence of swallowing disorders (74 patients). In 51 patients, tumor overgrowth over the stent/prosthesis was responsible for that symptom, and in 23 patients its clogging. A fistula (22 cases) and the passage of the prosthesis/stent (25 cases) were the second most common group of complications. Compression of the trachea, bleeding, and dehiscence of wounds occurred in a total of 18 patients. Complications were mostly treated through the repositioning of the prosthesis/stent or the insertion of an additional one.

CONCLUSIONS

The most common complications after esophageal prosthetics are the recurrence of dysphagia, a fistula and the displacement of the prosthesis/stent. The basic treatment of complications is the repositioning or insertion of an additional prosthesis.

History of the Use of Esophageal Stent in Management of Dysphagia and Its Improvement Over the Years

The art and science of using stents to treat dysphagia and seal fistula, leaks and perforations has been evolving. Lessons learnt from the deficiencies of previous models led to several improvements making stent deployment easier, and with some designs, it was also possible to remove the stents if needed. With these improvements, besides malignant dysphagia, newer indications for using stents emerged. Unfortunately, despite several decades of evolution, as yet, there is no perfect stent that "fits all." This article is an overview of how this evolution process happened and where we are currently with using stents to manage patients with dysphagia and with other esophageal disorders.

Small caliber covered self-expanding metal stents in the management of malignant dysphagia

BACKGROUND

Use of large caliber [≥18 mm body diameter (BD)] self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) for management of malignant dysphasia is associated with substantial adverse event (AE) and mortality rates (MRs). We sought to determine dysphagia response, stent migration rates, and AE and MRs, for small caliber covered SEMS (sccSEMS) with BDs between 10-16 mm in malignant dysphagia.

METHODS

Thirty-one patients underwent direct endoscopic placement of 50 sccSEMS between January 2008 and March 2011. Patients were monitored for change in dysphagia score (DS), stent migration, AEs, and death through May 2011.

RESULTS

DS improved in 30 of 31 patients (97%). The median DS decreased from 3 to 2 (P<0.0001). The median effective duration of first sccSEMS placement was 116 (95% CI: 75-196) days. Major and minor AE rates were 6.5% and 19.4% respectively. No stent related deaths were encountered. The overall migration rate was 36% (18/50). The anticipated migration rate was 45.7% (16/35) and the unanticipated migration rate was 13.3% (2/15) (P=0.052). Positive effective clinical outcome occurred in 93.5% (29/31) of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

In malignant dysphagia, direct endoscopic sccSEMS placement provided acceptable dysphagia control and migration rates with substantial reductions in stent related AEs and MRs compared to those reported for large caliber SEMS.

Evidence-based recommendations on upper gastrointestinal tract stenting: a report from the stent study group of the korean society of gastrointestinal endoscopy

Endoscopic stents have evolved dramatically over the past 20 years. With the introduction of uncovered self-expanding metal stents in the early 1990s, they are primarily used to palliate symptoms of malignant obstruction in patients with inoperable gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. At present, stents have emerged as an effective, safe, and less invasive alternative for the treatment of malignant GI obstruction. Clinical decisions about stent placement should be made based on the exact understanding of the patient's condition. These recommendations based on a critical review of the available data and expert consensus are made for the purpose of providing endoscopists with information about stent placement. These can be helpful for management of patients with inoperable cancer or various nonmalignant conditions in the upper GI tract.

Treating nausea and vomiting in palliative care: a review

Nausea and vomiting are portrayed in the specialist palliative care literature as common and distressing symptoms affecting the majority of patients with advanced cancer and other life-limiting illnesses. However, recent surveys indicate that these symptoms may be less common and bothersome than has previously been reported. The standard palliative care approach to the assessment and treatment of nausea and vomiting is based on determining the cause and then relating this back to the "emetic pathway" before prescribing drugs such as dopamine antagonists, antihistamines, and anticholinergic agents which block neurotransmitters at different sites along the pathway. However, the evidence base for the effectiveness of this approach is meager, and may be in part because relevance of the neuropharmacology of the emetic pathway to palliative care patients is limited. Many palliative care patients are over the age of 65 years, making these agents difficult to use. Greater awareness of drug interactions and QT(c) prolongation are emerging concerns for all age groups. The selective serotonin receptor antagonists are the safest antiemetics, but are not used first-line in many countries because there is very little scientific rationale or clinical evidence to support their use outside the licensed indications. Cannabinoids may have an increasing role. Advances in interventional gastroenterology are increasing the options for nonpharmacological management. Despite these emerging issues, the approach to nausea and vomiting developed within palliative medicine over the past 40 years remains relevant. It advocates careful clinical evaluation of the symptom and the person suffering it, and an understanding of the clinical pharmacology of medicines that are available for palliating them.

Combined laparoscopy and transabdominal endoscopy: Case report of dislodged oesophageal stent retrieval

The patient is a 39-year-old male with a five-month history of progressive dysphagia and a 70 lb weight loss. On upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy he was found to have a near-obstructing mass in the lower oesophagus that was proven by biopsy to be oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Stricture caused by the adenocarcinoma mass was stented with a Cook Evolution 12.5 cm / 24 Fr stent, which dislodged subsequently. We report the first case of a dislodged Cook Evolution 12.5 cm / 24 Fr oesophageal stent that was retrieved using combined laparoscopic and transabdominal endoscopy.

Expandable stents for benign esophageal disease

Partially covered self-expandable esophageal stents have been associated with unacceptable complications when used for benign esophageal disorders. With the introduction of removable or potentially removable fully covered stents and biodegradable stents, interest in using expandable stents for benign indications has been revived. Although expandable stents can offer a minimally invasive alternative to surgery, they can be associated with serious complications; hence, this approach should be considered in carefully selected patients, preferably on a protocol basis.

Role of esophageal stents in the nutrition support of patients with esophageal malignancy

Endoluminal stents are commonly used for palliative treatment of dysphagia in patients with advanced esophageal malignancies. The most frequently used esophageal stents are self-expanding metal stents. Removable self-expanding plastic stents have recently been used in the management of esophageal cancer patients treated with curative intent. Esophageal stents effectively alleviate dysphagia in most patients, and stent placement is associated with a low rate of complications. This article reviews the use of self-expanding esophageal stents in patients with esophageal cancer. Nutrition considerations following stent placement are addressed.

The surgical management of pancreaticoduodenal tumours in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1

A 48-year-old man was admitted under the care of urologists with acute renal failure and septicaemia secondary to pyelonephritis. Upon investigation, he was found to have renal stone disease secondary to a parathyroid adenoma. Further tests revealed high pituitary hormone and gastrin values, confirming the diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1) and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Soon after this he experienced a series of renal complications due to his renal stone disease and multiple complications of his gastrinoma, including two gastrointestinal perforations and three episodes of significant upper gastrointestinal bleeds (two of which required laparotomies), and a full length oesophageal stricture-all within the span of 9 months. His complications were managed appropriately and the oesophageal stricture was treated with a full length metallic stent. He was discharged home in a reasonably good condition with normal swallowing, but unfortunately died of aspiration pneumonia 3 weeks later.

Outcome of palliative esophageal stenting for malignant dysphagia: a retrospective analysis

Greater than 50% of patients with esophageal carcinoma are found to be incurable at the time of diagnosis, leaving only palliative options. Self-expanding metal stents (SEMs) are effective for relieving symptoms and complications associated with esophageal carcinoma and improving quality of life. We undertook a retrospective analysis to evaluate the experience of palliative esophageal stenting for symptomatic malignant dysphagia in our institution over a period of 7 years. Between January 1999 and January 2006, 126 patients who received SEMs for malignant dysphagia were identified using an upper gastrointestinal specialist nurse clinician database. Data were obtained from patient case notes, endoscopy, histopathology, radiology, and external agency databases. Of the 126 identified, 36 patients were excluded from the analysis. A number of variables including age, sex, presenting complaints, type of stent, indications of stenting, success or failure of stent insertion, survival rate, and complication rate were analyzed. Of the 90 patients, 55 (61%) were male and 35 (39%) were female. The mean age of patients was 70.79 (range 40-97) years. The predominant presenting complaints were dysphagia (n = 81) and weight loss (n = 48). The indication for stenting was worsening dysphagia in all patients. Tumors were confined to the distal esophagus and esophagogastric junction in 73 patients (81%), and the mid-esophagus in 17 (19%). Adenocarcinoma was identified in 61 patients (67.8%) and squamous cell carcinoma in 29 (32.2%). Stenting numbers were comparable in endoscopic and radiologic groups (47 vs. 43), with successful stent deployment in 89 patients. The 7- and 30-day mortality was 9% (n = 8) and 28% (n = 25), respectively. Comparable numbers of early deaths were seen in both radiologic (n = 13) and endoscopic (n = 12) groups. Causes of early inpatient death included hemorrhage (n = 5), pneumonia (n = 7), exhaustion (n = 2), cardiac causes (n = 3), perforation (n = 1), and sepsis (n = 1). The number of patients with complications was 41 (45.6%), 25 in the surgical group and 15 in the radiologic group; the difference was not significant (P = 0.13). The mean survival time was 92.5 (0-638) days and median survival time was 61 days. A subgroup of patients with complete dysphagia (score 4) gained a mean survival of 59 days. Those patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy survived significantly longer than those receiving stenting alone (152.8 days vs. 71.8 days). There is no significant difference in complications or survival when using endoscopic or radiologic methods to deploy SEMs in patients with inoperable esophageal cancer. Mortality is low; however, the morbidity rate is significant. Patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy, in addition to stenting, survived significantly longer than those with a stent only.

Evidence-based choice of esophageal stent for the palliative management of malignant dysphagia

BACKGROUND

The type of stent used for the management of patients with malignant dysphagia is chosen according to subjective physician's preference. There is no recent study available to provide updated evidence on early outcomes related to the use of different types of stents.

METHODS

A literature search was performed using Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases for comparative studies assessing different types of stents. The primary end point was stent-related mortality; secondary end points included: stent-related morbidity, successful palliation of dysphagia, and 30-day mortality. A random-effects model was used and heterogeneity was assessed.

RESULTS

Twelve studies that included 911 patients compared metallic (46.54%) and plastic stents (53.45%), and eight studies that included 564 patients compared covered (43.26%) and uncovered metal stents (56.73%). Meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials showed that metallic stents were associated with significantly reduced stent-related mortality (1.7% vs. 11.1% for the plastic group, odds ratio (OR), 0.2; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.06-0.74; P = 0.02), morbidity in the form of reduced esophageal perforation (1.4% vs. 9.4% for plastic stent, OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.08-0.89; P = 0.03), and stent migration, yet increased rate of tumor in-growth (13% vs. 1.6% for plastic stents, OR, 4.84; 95% CI, 0.99-23.76; P = 0.05). Covered metallic stents had significantly less tumor in-growth than the uncovered and an increased migration rate. There was no significant difference between metallic and plastic stents in terms of any other stent-related morbidity and 30-day mortality.

CONCLUSION

Self-expanding metallic stents are superior to plastic stents in terms of stent insertion-related mortality, morbidity, and quality of palliation. The uncovered variety is disadvantaged by high rate of tumor in-growth; adequately designed randomized, controlled trials need to examine outcomes and cost-effectiveness of covered versus uncovered metallic stents.

Self-expanding Polyflex plastic stents in esophageal disease: various indications, complications, and outcomes

BACKGROUND

Esophageal stenting has become an important technique in the treatment of different clinical problems such as malignant or benign stenosis, anastomotic leaks after surgery, or fistulas. In this study we present our experience with the self-expanding Polyflex plastic stent in various indications, arising complications, and patient's outcomes.

METHODS

Over a three-year period, 35 patients underwent self-expanding Polyflex plastic stent placement for esophageal stenosis (n = 23) with 22 malignant, and for perforations, fistulas, or anastomotic leaks after surgery (n = 12). The short-term efficacy and long-term outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

In patients with stenosis, implantation was performed without any complications in 91% (21/23). In one patient perforation occurred while passing the stenosis; in another patient the stent dislocated during the insertion procedure. Dysphagia score improved from 3.0 to 1.0 after stenting. In all patients with perforations, fistulas, or anastomotic leaks (n = 12), stents were placed successfully without any complication. Complete sealing of the mucosal defect was proven by radiography in 92% (n = 11) and healing was seen in 42% (n = 5). If indicated, stent removal was performed without any complications. Stent migration (n = 13; 37%) was the most common long-term complication.

CONCLUSIONS

The placement of self-expanding Polyflex plastic stents is a highly sufficient and cost-effective treatment for malignant and benign esophageal disorders. Because the long-term results were highly favorable, self-expanding plastic stent placement could be used as the initial treatment for various conditions.

Endoscopic approaches for palliation of luminal gastrointestinal obstruction

Much of the workload of a typical gastroenterologist is devoted to screening patients for gastrointestinal malignancies. Efforts such as colorectal cancer screening via colonoscopy and endoscopic surveillance of patients with Barrett's esophagus are widespread and widely endorsed. In recent years, the armamentarium of endoscopy has broadened considerably and now affords physicians a variety of nonsurgical means to palliate malignant obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract. This article reviews endoscopic techniques to treat malignant esophageal, biliary, small bowel, and colonic obstruction.

[Palliative options for esophageal carcinoma]

Considering the limited chances of radically curing esophageal carcinoma, most of these patients are candidates for palliative therapy. Priority should be given to rapid relief of dysphagia. Endoscopic implantation of esophageal prostheses is immediately effective in 90% of patients, whereas the onset of relief is slower with any alternative method. Long-term complications necessitate an endoscopic reintervention in 30% of the prosthesis carriers. Endoscopic prosthesis implantation is also the first-choice treatment for esophagotracheal fistulae. Self-expanding stents need only minimized preceding bougienage, which has lower complication rates than conventional plastic prostheses. Endoscopic laser radiation is better tolerated by patients than prosthesis implantation but is effective only in very short stenoses. Endoluminal brachytherapy with (192)iridium can be justified in patients with a survival expectancy of more than 6 months, the onset of its effect being slower but longer lasting. Palliative chemotherapy and radiochemotherapy are indicated when metastatic dissemination dominates the symptoms.

Fluoroscopically guided insertion of self-expandable metal esophageal stents for palliative treatment of patients with malignant stenosis of esophagus and cardia: comparison of uncovered and covered stent types

The aim of this retrospective study was to present and compare the results of using two different types of esophageal self-expanding stents (uncovered and covered) for palliative treatment of patients with inoperable malignant stenosis of the esophagus and cardia. Over a period of 8 years, 152 patients underwent fluoroscopically guided insertion of metal esophageal stents. We inserted uncovered esophageal nitinol Strecker stents in 54 patients (group I) and covered esophageal Ultraflex stents in the remaining 98 patients (group II). The stent insertion procedure was successively performed in all patients. Closure of esophageal fistula by covered stents was achieved in 8/8 patients. Mean dysphagia score was significantly decreased in both patient groups at 4 weeks follow-up: from 2.73 before stent insertion to 0.15 in group I, and from 2.67 to 0.05 in group II (on 0-4 scale). Eighty-eight per cent of patients with covered stents and 54% with uncovered type were free of symptoms during follow-up. Complications occurring during follow-up and their comparative frequency in the two groups of patients were as follows (group I: group II%): stent migration (0:10%); tumor or granulation tissue ingrowth (100:53%); overgrowth at the ends of stents (17:30%); restenosis causing recurrent dysphagia (37:8%); and appearance of esophageal fistulas (8:6%). In conclusion, fluoroscopically guided insertion of self-expandable esophageal stents is a safe and comfortable method of palliation for patients suffering with malignant dysphagia. In selection of a stent, covered types should be given priority for prevention of restenosis.

Quality improvement guidelines for placement of esophageal stents

Esophageal cancer is now the sixth leading cause of death from cancer worldwide. During the past three decades, important changes have occurred in the epidemiologic patterns associated with this disease. Due to the distensible characteristics of the esophagus, patients may not recognize any symptoms until 50% of the luminal diameter is compromised, explaining why cancer of the esophagus is generally associated with late presentation and poor prognosis. Esophageal cancer has a poor outcome, with an overall 5 year survival rate of less than 10%, and fewer than 50% of patients are suitable for resection at presentation. As a result palliation is the best option in this group of patients. The aims of palliation are maintenance of oral intake, minimizing hospital stay, relief of pain, elimination of reflux and regurgitation, and prevention of aspiration. For palliative care, current treatment options include thermal ablation, photodynamic therapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, chemical injection therapy, argon beam or bipolar electrocoagulation therapy, enteral feeding (nasogastric tube/percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy), and intubation (self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) or semi-rigid prosthetic tubes) with different success and complications rates.

Emerging endoscopic techniques in oncology

New techniques have expanded the role of endoscopy in the diagnosis, staging, therapy, and palliation of malignancies. Three major areas of emerging technologies--endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), luminal stent technology, and photodynamic therapy (PDT)--are discussed in this article. Although EUS and PDT have been used for more than two decades, they have only recently emerged as established integral methods in the armamentarium of the gastrointestinal endoscopist.

Therapy of advanced esophageal malignancy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To evaluate the developments in the treatment of advanced esophageal cancer during the past year.

RECENT FINDINGS

Esophagectomy remains the treatment of choice for resectable esophageal malignancies even in locally advanced disease. Transthoracic en bloc esophagectomy with extended mediastinal lymphadenectomy seems to be superior to transmediastinal resection. Hospital and surgeon volume are the major factors that determine postoperative mortality. Promising short-term results were obtained in larger series with minimally-invasive esophagectomy, but concerns about oncologic appropriateness and the widespread applicability of this approach remain. Although neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiochemotherapy is widely practiced, only responders appear to benefit. Positron emission tomography with fluorodeoxyglucose has been identified as a promising tool for response evaluation early after the onset of neoadjuvant treatment. Adjuvant chemotherapy or radiochemotherapy may be beneficial in a subgroup of patients after complete tumor resection.

SUMMARY

The transthoracic approach should be preferred for esophagectomy in locally advanced tumors. The surgeon's experience is the most important determinant of outcome after esophagectomy. Individualized indications for multimodality treatment appear possible.