One hundred endoscopic tube implantations were carried out on 95 patients with malignant esophageal stenosis. Palliative treatment was performed in 43% of cases because of the advanced stage of the tumor, and in 57% of cases because of risk factors which made resection inadvisable. Clinical mortality was 16%, with six deaths caused by technical complications (perforation, arrosion bleeding), and ten by cardiopulmonary problems. Dislodgement or obstruction of the prostheses was observed in 20% of cases, but could readily be corrected. The median survival time was two months, with 17% of the patients still alive after six months. Poor general health, advanced age and the presence of distant metastases were established as unfavorable prognostic indications with a significant influence on postoperative mortality. Functional results were good: 87% of patients were able to eat solid or pulpy food post-operatively.

Atkinson tubes are inserted endoscopically for palliation of obstructing esophageal carcinoma. A technique was developed to reposition or remove dislocated tubes that involves the use of a dilation balloon catheter. The technique was successful in treating three partially dislocated tubes and one of two completely dislocated tubes (tubes completely dislodged into the stomach). The only complication occurred in two patients who coughed up a small amount of blood.

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Benign stenoses of the oesophagus have been conventionally treated by endoscopic bougienage and were operated on in case of failure. Now that balloon catheters with large balloon diameters are available, interventional radiological dilatation of enteric strictures can be easily performed. In case of eccentric high-grade stenosis with or without blind loop, stenosis is often easier to manage and associated with less risk with an angiographic guide wire and catheter than by endoscopy. 53.3% of the patients were referred to balloon dilatation after failed endoscopic bougienage. The indications for balloon dilatation were anastomotic stenosis (66.2%), peptic stenosis (16.9%), achalasia (7%), pylorospasm (5.6%) and stenosis due to pemphigus vulgaris, acid ingestion and (in one case) a Schatzki ring. The complication rate was low at 1%. The experience collected with 297 dilatations in 71 patients with benign oesophageal stenosis, is reported.