Combination of biodegradable stent placement and single-dose brachytherapy is associated with an unacceptably high complication rate in the treatment of dysphagia from esophageal cancer

Antireflux versus conventional self-expanding metallic Stents (SEMS) for distal esophageal cancer: results of a multicenter randomized trial

“…While antireflux stents had a higher rate of AEs, they were minor and easily managed endoscopically. Other treatments such as brachytherapy, external radiotherapy or chemotherapy have also shown promising results in this situation 22 23 24 25 26 27 and should be further evaluated. Future research should focus on optimal treatment algorithms, including the otential association between endoscopic and non-endoscopic therapies.…”

Radiation therapy and esophageal endoprosthetics: Facts and fiction

“…Thus, placement of a temporary stent in these patients at the time of brachytherapy may rapidly improve symptoms. Conflicting results have been seen when using this approach [21,22]. In a study [21] of 12 patients, stent insertion was followed by single-dose brachytherapy in 11.…”

“…Only minor adverse events occurred with a median survival of 6.6 months. In the other prospective single-arm study [22] of 19 consecutive patients, single-dose brachytherapy was administered followed by biodegradable stent placement the following day. The study was prematurely terminated because of complications that occurred in 89% of patients.…”

Palliative treatment of malignant dysphagia: stent by and await further instructions

“…Moreover, recent studies suggest that the risk of SAEs is increased when a high radiation dose is used. 9 Unfortunately, the retrospective data collection in the current study allowed only for the identification of SAEs that required hospitalization or repeated endoscopic interventions. Consequently, severe retrosternal pain and vomiting, frequently encountered SAEs after radiotherapy, which can limit food intake and influence quality of life considerably, may well have been missed if patients were not admitted for treatment.…”

“…Consequently, severe retrosternal pain and vomiting, frequently encountered SAEs after radiotherapy, which can limit food intake and influence quality of life considerably, may well have been missed if patients were not admitted for treatment. 9 Furthermore, if a patient had died of an SAE at home or had been treated for an SAE in another hospital, that too could have been missed.…”