Esophageal tumors are complicated by dysphagia: results of patients stenting

Introduction. Despite advances in therapy, esophageal cancer (EC) is recently became one of most incurable cancers, especially when it leads to dysphagia. Hence there is a need for develop the optimum management options. Aim. This study presents the experience of treating 464 patients with inoperable stages of esophageal cancer. The causes of inoperable behavior in this type of patients have been identified. Methods. A total of 249 patients were subjected to the following various options of minimally invasive interventions: endoscopic diathermotunnelization (EDT) in 38 (15.3%), endoscopic bougienage (EB) in 18 (7.2%) and endoscopic stenting (ES) in 193 (77.5%) patients. Results. Improved methods of minimally invasive interventions, as well as the nature of possible complications during their use were presented. Conclusion. It is concluded that the installation of endoscopic stenting with self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) with an antireflux valve in the treatment of non-operable EC stages with dysphagia syndrome is the most safe, effective and fast treatment method for dysphagia relief with a greater efficiency and the less frequency of complications especially when conventional silicone and rigid stents is used.