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Partially versus fully covered self-expanding metal stents for benign and malignant esophageal conditions: a single center experience

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Abstract

Background

Fully covered self-expanding metal stents (FCSEMS), unlike partially covered SEMS (PCSEMS), have been used to treat benign as well as malignant conditions. We aimed to evaluate the outcome of PCSEMS and FCSEMS in patients with both benign and malignant esophageal diseases.

Methods

Data were reviewed of all patients who underwent SEMS placement for malignant or benign conditions between January 1995 and January 2012. Patients with cancer were followed for at least 3 months, until death or surgery. Patients with benign conditions had stents removed between 4 and 12 weeks. Patient demographics, location and type of lesion, stent placement and removal, clinical success, and adverse events were analyzed.

Results

A total of 252 patients (mean ± standard deviation age 68.5 ± 14 years; 171 male) received 321 SEMS (209 PCSEMS, 112 FCSEMS) for malignant (78 %) and benign (22 %) conditions. Stent placement and removal was successful in 97.6 and 95.6 % procedures. Successful relief of malignant dysphagia was noted in 140 of 167 patients (83.8 %) and control of benign fistulas, leaks, and perforations was noted in 21 of 25 patients (84 %), but only 8 of 15 patients (53 %) with recalcitrant benign strictures had effective treatment. Fifty-six patients (22.2 %) experienced at least one stent-related adverse events. Migration was frequent, occurring in 61 of 321 stent placements (19 %), and more frequently with FCSEMS than PCSEMS (37.5 vs. 9.1 %, p < 0.001). FCSEMS, benign conditions, and distal location were the variables independently associated with migration (p < 0.001, p = 0.022, and p = 0.008). Patients with PCSEMS were more likely to have tissue in- or overgrowth than FCSEMS (53.4 vs. 29.1 %, p = 0.004).

Conclusions

Both PCSEMS and FCSEMS can be used in benign and malignant conditions; they are both effective for relieving malignant dysphagia and for closing leaks and perforations, but they seem less effective for relieving benign recalcitrant strictures. Stent migration is more common with FCSEMS, which may limit its use for the palliation of malignant dysphagia.

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Disclosures

Dr. Low has received speaking honoraria from Boston Scientific, Inc. Dr. Kozarek serves as a consultant to Taewoong Medical with fees paid to Virginia Mason Medical Center. Taewoong Medical provided all stents used during the study period without charge. No other support was provided by any device or pharmaceutical company. Drs. Seven, Irani, Ross, Gluck, and Gan have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Digestive Disease Institute at Virginia Mason, Virginia Mason Medical Center, 1100 9th Ave., Mail Stop C3-GAS, PO Box 900, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA

    Gulseren Seven, Shayan Irani, Andrew S. Ross, S. Ian Gan, Michael Gluck & Richard A. Kozarek

  2. Department of Thoracic and General Surgery, Virginia Mason Medical Center, 1100 9th Ave., Mail Stop C3-GAS, PO Box 900, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA

    Donald Low

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  1. Gulseren Seven
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  2. Shayan Irani
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  3. Andrew S. Ross
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  4. S. Ian Gan
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  5. Michael Gluck
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  6. Donald Low
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  7. Richard A. Kozarek
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Correspondence to Richard A. Kozarek.

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Seven, G., Irani, S., Ross, A.S. et al. Partially versus fully covered self-expanding metal stents for benign and malignant esophageal conditions: a single center experience. Surg Endosc 27, 2185–2192 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-012-2738-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-012-2738-x

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