Benign Strictures
Silicone stents may be placed to provide long-term relief from dysphagia for refractory benign strictures in the esophagus. In a study in 2004, 15 patients with benign esophageal strictures, who had previously been treated unsuccessfully with dilation, were given temporary polyester silicone-covered stents for 6 weeks. At the conclusion, the dysphagia score went down (p<0.0005).
1 The long-term (mean follow-up 22.7 [2.6] months), relief was obtained in 12 patients (80%).
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Malignant Strictures
Stents may also be placed to provide treatment for malignant strictures in the esophagus. This therapy may be used alone or in combination with other techniques depending on the disease or desired outcome for the patient.
Metal stents help to relieve dysphagia, potentially allowing the patient to maintain nutritional support orally. Metal stents are delivered via a small delivery system designed to keep the stent constrained until deployment. Upon endoscopic and fluoroscopic visualization of stent position, the delivery system is released and the stent deploys to its pre-constrained outer diameter.
Stent Options
The Polyflex® Esophageal Stent, a polyester silicone-covered stent, is indicated for stenting esophageal stenoses, such as stenting refractory benign strictures and malignant esophageal strictures. The device is also indicated for esophago-respiratory-fistula and maintaining esophageal lumen patency in esophageal strictures caused by intrinsic or extrinsic tumors. Polyflex Esophageal Stent is the only stent on the market indicated for refractory benign strictures and is a temporary (studies show up to 9 months) option for today’s gastroenterologist.
The Ultraflex™ Esophageal NG Stent System (covered and non-covered) is intended for maintaining esophageal luminal patency in esophageal strictures caused by intrinsic and/or extrinsic malignant tumors only. The Ultraflex Esophageal Stent System (covered) is also indicated for occlusion of concurrent esophageal fistula.
References
- Repici A MD, et al. Temporary placement of an expandable polyester silicone covered stent for treatment of refractory benign esophageal strictures. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2004; 60:4: 513-519. http://www.giejournal.org/article/abstracts
