Prior radiation and chemotherapy increase the risk of life-threatening complications after insertion of metallic stents for esophagogastric malignancy,☆☆,,★★,

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-5107(96)70315-2Get rights and content

Abstract

Background: Self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) are effective in relieving the symptoms of obstructing esophagogastric malignancy. While complications with SEMS have been described, factors influencing such occurrence have not been defined. Methods: Self-expanding Gianturco-Rösch Z-stents were placed successfully in 59 patients with obstructing esophagogastric malignancies. Results: Early procedure-related complications occurred in 6 patients (10%) and were usually minor. Twenty-three late complications occurred in 22 patients (37.5%). Life-threatening complications occurred in 9 patients (15%), including gastrointestinal bleeding (7), perforation (1), and tracheoesophageal fistula (1) and contributed to all five deaths. Eight of 22 patients with prior radiation and/or chemotherapy (36.4%) had life-threatening complications compared to 1 of 37 (2.5%) without prior therapy (p = 0.001). Stent-related mortality occurred in 5 of 22 (23%) patients with prior therapy compared to none of the 37 without prior therapy (p = 0.005). Multivariate analysis confirmed the association between prior radiation and/or chemotherapy and life-threatening complications (p = 0.012; odds ratio, 32.63) and also an association with female gender (p = 0.032; odds ratio, 13.9). There was no association with tumor location or length, histologic type, age, prestent dysphagia grade, or previous surgical resection. Conclusion: Patients with prior radiation and/or chemotherapy have an increased risk of severe complications following placement of SEMS. (Gastrointest Endosc 1996;43:196-203.)

Section snippets

Patients

From July 1990 to January 1994, 59 patients with obstructing esophagogastric malignancies were treated(Table 1). All complications were recorded and we retrospectively analyzed the data to determine which clinical factors predisposed patients to severe, life-threatening complications. Forty-four patients were men and 15 were women; the age range was 50 to 92 (mean, 69.7 years). The diagnosis of malignancy was established by endoscopic biopsy. Adenocarcinoma was found in 44 (42 esophageal, 1

RESULTS

Stents were successfully placed in all 59 patients in 60 attempts (Table 2). In one patient the first stent was placed too distally, and a second stent was placed to overlap the first. A single stent was placed in 52 patients, whereas 7 patients required 2 overlapping stents—because of extensive tumor length in six patients and distal placement in one patient. Fifty-three of 59 (90%) saw improvement of dysphagia of at least 2 grades. Mean dysphagia grade decreased from a mean of 3.24 to 0.85

DISCUSSION

The use of rigid endoprostheses for malignant esophageal obstructions has been thoroughly described.5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 19 The complication rates with placement of rigid endoprostheses are high, with an incidence of perforation of 8% to 11%.5, 6 The aggressive dilation required to accommodate the stent and the shearing forces as the stent is placed may account for the high perforation rates. Stent migration, tissue necrosis with bleeding, tumor overgrowth, and obstruction occur later at variable

References (26)

  • TR DeMeester et al.

    Surgery and current management for cancer of the esophagus and cardia: Part II

    Curr Probl Surg

    (1988)
  • HW Boyce

    Palliation of advanced esophageal cancer

    Semin Oncol

    (1984)
  • ME Ahmed et al.

    Current palliative modalities for esophageal carcinoma

    Acta Chir Scand

    (1990)
  • Cited by (227)

    • Endoscopic management of esophageal strictures

      2017, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
    View all citing articles on Scopus

    From the Division of Gastroenterology and the Dotter Institute of Interventional Therapy, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon.

    ☆☆

    Reprint requests: Ronald M. Katon, MD, Gastroenterology, PV310, Oregon Health Sciences University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97210-3098

    0016-5107/96/4303-0196$5.00 + 0

    ★★

    GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY

    37/1/68943

    View full text