Expandable stents for iatrogenic perforation of esophageal malignancies

Stents for proximal esophageal cancer: a case-control study

“…All 7 perforations were iatrogenic and occurred during prestenting dilation of the tumor; all were treated with immediate stent insertion. 21 One of the 7 perforations occurred in a proximal lesion, and the patient lived for 587 additional days. For distal lesions, 1 patient was followed until death at 320 days, and 5 were alive at 31, 120, 205, 212, and 213 days.…”

Endoscopic therapy for esophageal perforation or anastomotic leak with a self-expandable metallic stent

“…To date, different types of stents are available for endoscopic treatment. SEMS were introduced in the early 1990s mainly for permanent treatment of tumor perforation or tumor stenosis in cancer patients with advanced disease [16,17]. Plastic stents are mainly used for the treatment of leaks and strictures of benign disease because of their ability to be removed easier with less damage to the esophageal wall [8].…”

“…In this subgroup of patients, conservative therapy with stents has shown very promising results; this is true for patients with benign as well as malignant disease [17]. Freeman et al recently reported about 17 patients with iatrogenic intrathoracic esophageal perforation and were able to show rapid leak occlusion, the opportunity for early oral nutrition, reduction of hospital length of stay, and elimination of the potential morbidity of operative repair [6].…”

Oesophageal cancer: an overview of a deadly disease

“…Early or immediate complications are generally related to dilation or misplacement and include perforation and airway compromise. Whereas oesophageal perforation is generally considered a surgical emergency, perforation of an unresectable malignancy can usually be treated effectively with placement of a coated SEMS (98). Later complications of SEMS include chest pain, stent migration, stent occlusion, and bleeding.…”