Nitinol coil esophageal prosthesis: advantages of removable self-expanding metallic stents

Self‐expandable Metal Stents for Malignant Dysphagia

“…Adding an inert covering membrane blocks ingrowth and also seals off tracheo‐oesophageal fistulas 4 . Covered stents, however, are more susceptible to migration 11 . Modifications of covered stents with barbs (as in Gianturco‐Z stents) or funnel‐ends may improve their anchorage.…”

Stenting of the Gastrointestinal Tract

“…Since that time, SEMS placement has rapidly gained popularity, and uncontrolled studies utilizing the four major SEMS types reported technically successful stent placement in 85-100%, with a second stent needed at the time of the initial procedure in up to 22% of the patients [16][17][18][19]. When trying to interpret studies on SEMS placement, it is important to recognize that most of the early published experience pertained to uncovered SEMS which have now been largely replaced by covered versions.…”

To stent or not to stent?

“…The endoscopic retrieval of Esophacoil (Esophacoil, Instent, Eden Prairie, MN) stents has been previously described, but their extreme expansile force make this procedure difficult and risky (27,28). The Ultraflex stent has a pursestring suture to facilitate limited repositioning only.…”