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Fully covered removable nitinol self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) in malignant strictures of the esophagus: a multicenter analysis

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Abstract

Background

Fully covered esophageal self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) often are used for palliation of malignant dysphagia. However, experience and data on these stents are still limited. The purpose of this multicenter study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fully covered nitinol SEMS in patients with malignant dysphagia.

Methods

37 patients underwent placement of a SEMS during a 3 year period. Five patients underwent SEMS placement as a bridge to surgery: one for tracheoesophageal fistula in the setting of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, one for perforation in setting of esophageal adenocarcinoma, 27 for unresectable esophageal cancer (16 adenocarcinoma, 11 squamous cell carcinoma), two for lung cancer, and one for breast-cancer-related esophageal strictures.

Results

SEMS placement was successful in all 37 patients. Immediate complications after stent deployment included chest pain (n = 6), severe heartburn (n = 1), and upper gastrointestinal bleeding requiring SEMS revision (n = 1). Dysphagia scores improved significantly from 3.2 ± 0.4 before stent placement to 1.4 ± 1.0 at 1 month (P < 0.0001), 1.1 ± 1.2 (P < 0.0001) at 3 months, and 1.3 ± 1.4 (P = 0.0018) at 6 months. The stent was removed in 11 patients (30%) for the following indications: resolution of stricture (n = 3), stent malfunction (n = 5), and stent migration (n = 3). After stent removal, three patients were restented, three underwent dilation, and two underwent PEG placement. Mean survival for the 37 patients after stent placement was 146.3 ± 143.6 (range, 13–680) days.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that fully covered SEMS placement improve dysphagia scores in patients with malignant strictures, particularly in the unresectable population. Further technical improvements in design to minimize long-term malfunction and migration are required.

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Disclosures

Dr. Eloubeidi has received speaker honoraria from Merritt Endotek and is a consultant to Boston Scientific, Merritt Endotek, and Olympus Medical. Dr. Shami is consultant for Olympus Medical. Dr. Kahaleh has received grant support from Boston Scientific, Fujinon, Emcison, and Mi Tech and is a consultant for Boston Scientific and XLumina. Dr. Talreja, Dr. Lopez, Dr. Al-Awabdy, and Dr. Sauer have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Digestive Health Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Jayant P. Talreja, Bryan G. Sauer, Basil S. Al-Awabdy & Vanessa M. Shami

  2. Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA

    Mohamad A. Eloubeidi & Tercio Lopes

  3. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1305 York Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Michel Kahaleh

Authors
  1. Jayant P. Talreja
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  2. Mohamad A. Eloubeidi
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  3. Bryan G. Sauer
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  4. Basil S. Al-Awabdy
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  5. Tercio Lopes
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  6. Michel Kahaleh
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  7. Vanessa M. Shami
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Correspondence to Michel Kahaleh.

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Talreja, J.P., Eloubeidi, M.A., Sauer, B.G. et al. Fully covered removable nitinol self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) in malignant strictures of the esophagus: a multicenter analysis. Surg Endosc 26, 1664–1669 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-011-2089-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-011-2089-z

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