This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Oesophageal prostheses

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Malignant oesophageal disease can be palliated by the siting of a plastic stent. However, this technique has now largely been superseded by thermal methods of recanalization, e.g. laser probes, and stents are now generally reserved for broncho-oesophageal fistula.

Stents cannot be placed in the proximal third of the oesophagus due to the risks of tracheal compression and asphyxia from stent movement proximally. Equally, siting in the distal third is avoided because of a tendency to blockage. Commercial tubes have proximal and distal flanges to reduce the risk of migration.

The tumour is first demarcated by radiography. It is then dilated up to size 54 French gauge and the stent is introduced by one of a variety of specialised introducers. Mortality from the procedure is high - up to 30% at 30 days.

Once the stent position has been recorded radiographically, a chest X-ray and water soluble barium swallow are performed within a few hours; this is to demonstrate perforation. In the absence of complications, the patient is restarted orally on solid food within 48 hours.

If the patient survives six months, a change of stent should be considered: the PVC type lose their flexibility with time and latex tubes disintegrate.


Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.