151 Background: Use of large caliber ( ≥ 18 mm body diameter) self expanding metal stents (SEMS) for management of malignant dysphasia is associated with substantial adverse event (AE) and mortality rates (MRs). We sought to determine dysphagia response, stent migration rates, and AE and MRs, for small caliber covered SEMS (sccSEMS) with body diameters (BDs) between 10 - 16 mm in malignant dysphagia. Methods: We identified 31 patients underwent direct endoscopic placement of 50 sccSEMS. Patients were monitored for change in dysphagia score (DS), stent migration, AEs, and death. Results: The cohort consisted of 23 (74%) men and 8 (26%) women with a median age of 64 years (35 - 87 years). Esophageal adenocarcinoma (AC) was present in 19 (61%) patients and squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA) in 12 (39%) patients. Of the patients with SCCA, 2 tumors were located in the proximal esophagus, 7 in the mid-esophagus and 3 in the distal esophagus. All 19 ACs were located in the distal esophagus. The AJCC clinical stages at time of sccSEMS placement were: 1 (3%) Stage II, 8 (26%) Stage III, and 22 (71%) Stage IV. The initial pre-stent lumen diameter was less than 8 mm in 77% (24/31) of patients. The initial pre-stent lumen diameter was equal to 9 mm in 1 patient (3%), equal to 10 mm in 4 patients (13%), and equal to 11 mm in 2 patients (6%). The median pre-stent tumor length was 5.0 cm (interquartile range 4.0 – 7.0 cm). Dysphagia score improved in 30 of 31 patients (97%). The median DS decreased from 3 to 2 (p < 0.0001). The median effective duration of first sccSEMS placement was 116 (95% CI: 75-196) days. Major and minor AE rates were 6.5% and 19.4% respectively. No stent related deaths were encountered. The overall migration rate was 36% (18/50). The anticipated migration rate was 45.7% (16/35) and the unanticipated migration rate was 13.3% (2/15) (p = 0.052). Positive effective clinical outcome occurred in 93.5% (29/31) of cases. Conclusions: In malignant dysphagia, direct endoscopic sccSEMS placement provided acceptable dysphagia control and migration rates with substantial reductions in stent related AEs and MRs compared to those reported for large caliber SEMS.
Small caliber covered self-expanding metal stents in the management of malignant dysphagia
