Endoprosthetics for malignant esophageal disease

Currently used stents for malignant esophageal strictures include self-expanding metal stents (SEMS), self-expanding plastic stents (SEPS), and biodegradable stents. For the palliative treatment of malignant dysphagia, both SEMS and SEPS effectively provide rapid relief of dysphagia. SEMS are preferred over SEPS as randomized controlled trials have shown more technical difficulties and late migration with plastic stents. Despite specific characteristics of recently developed stents, recurrent dysphagia due to food impaction, stent migration, and both tumoral and nontumoral tissue overgrowths are common.

Source: Techniques in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - July 23, 2014 Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Meike M.C. Hirdes, Peter Siersema Source Type: research