Nitinol self-expanding stents (Endocoil-InSTENT) for palliative treatment of esophageal and esophago-gastric neoplastic obstruction. Preliminary experience

Seven patients with neoplastic stenosis of esophagus (2 with recurrency after RT+CT, 1 with primary disease, 1 with diffuse breast cancer and 1 with recurrent lung Ca after surgery+RT) and cardia (1 squamous cells Ca involving cardia and 1 adenoCa of the cardia involving distal esophagus) not suitable for radical treatment, were submitted to intubation with Endocoil Nitinol self-expanding stents, InSTENT 16 mm or 18 mm final diameter/10 cm length (the residual diameter was in all patients less than 10 mm, range 5-9 mm). The intubation was successfull in all patients, with no need of previous dilation of more than 11 mm, no acute complications or migration and occlusion at follow-up, nor chest pain 24-48 hours after the procedure. All patients had prompt relief of dysphagia (mean score's reduction from 3.4 to 1). Average follow-up is 73 days (range 30-150 days): two patients died 30 and 150 days after the intubation for systemic progression of disease.