Esophageal Stent Flashcards
What condition is esophageal stenting (ES) commonly used to relieve?
-Severe dysphagia caused by benign or malignant esophageal strictures
-prevent luminal contamination of the mediastinum
What properties of Nitinol make it ideal for use in SEMS?
Superelasticity and shape memory, which allow it to expand at body temperature to fit the lesion’s morphology.
What is a drawback of uncovered SEMS (uc-SEMS)?
They can foster stent stenosis due to fibrotic tissue ingrowth through the mesh openings
Why were fully covered and partially covered stents developed?
To reduce fibrotic tissue ingrowth and stent stenosis while providing additional luminal anchorage
What is the potential downside of using covered stents?
more susceptible to migration, particularly in high-risk areas like the distal esophagus.
What are self-expandable plastic stents (SEPS) made of?
double-layered, with polyester mesh on the outside and a smooth silicon layer on the inside.
What is the primary use of biodegradable stents (BDS)?
They are mainly used for benign strictures and do not require retrieval.
What material are biodegradable stents (BDS) made from, and how long do they maintain mechanical strength?
plaited polydioxanone, maintaining mechanical strength for 4 to 6 weeks and degrade over 8 to 12 weeks
What has the FDA approved esophageal stenting (ES) for?
Preservation of luminal patency in malignant strictures and occlusion of concurrent esophageal fistula
What conditions has the use of ES increased for in the past decade?
Refractory benign esophageal strictures (RBES),
esophageal perforations
variceal bleeding
postsurgical anastomotic leaks
and achalasia
What causes malignant esophageal dysphagia?
-intramural growth of primary esophageal tumors
-extrinsic compression from mediastinal and airway tract neoplasms
What is the primary goal of treatment in patients with advanced malignant esophageal dysphagia?
Relief of dysphagia
resumption of oral intake to improve quality of life (QOL) and sometimes survival.
What is considered the first-line therapy for palliation of malignant dysphagia?
Esophageal stenting (ES), specifically using self-expandable metal stents (SEMS).
What are the benefits of SEMS for malignant dysphagia?
SEMS provide prompt relief of dysphagia and help optimize the patient’s nutritional status
How does single-dose brachytherapy compare to SEMS in treating malignant dysphagia?
Brachytherapy provides longer-lasting dysphagia relief, higher QOL scores, and less morbidity, but stenting offers earlier relief.
Why has enthusiasm for brachytherapy diminished in treating malignant dysphagia?
Due to the frequent need to insert rescue stents after brachytherapy.
When might brachytherapy still be considered for malignant dysphagia?
For carefully selected patients with mild to moderate dysphagia and a longer life expectancy.
What is the first line of intervention for patients with moderate to severe dysphagia or recurrent dysphagia after brachytherapy?
Esophageal stenting (ES), particularly with fully covered SEMS (fc-SEMS)
Why are fully covered SEMS (fc-SEMS) preferred over uncovered SEMS (uc-SEMS) or self-expandable plastic stents (SEPS)?
fc-SEMS have a lower rate of tumor ingrowth compared to partially covered
and less risk of stent migration compared to SEPS
What causes malignant esophageal fistulas?
Primarily from esophageal tumor infiltration into surrounding structures like the trachea, mediastinum, pleura, and proximal abdominal cavity
or from extrinsic infiltration or chemoradiation-induced tumor necrosis.
What initial management steps are recommended for malignant esophageal fistulas?
Temporary suspension of oral intake
drainage of involved spaces
and endoscopic insertion of a fully covered self-expandable metal stent (fc-SEMS)
Why is the palliation of gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) strictures by endoscopic means technically challenging?
Due to the acute angle and varying luminal diameters at the GEJ, which can interfere with satisfactory stent fixation
What are the common complications of esophageal stenting (ES) at the GEJ?
Increased risk of acid reflux
distal stent migration
and ineffective palliation.
What type of stent is considered the stent of choice for GEJ strictures?
Partially covered self-expandable metal stents (pc-SEMS)
How might preoperative esophageal stenting (ES) benefit patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer (EC) undergoing neoadjuvant therapy?
nutritional optimization
improved oral intake
weight stabilization, and enhanced quality of life (QOL) before surgical resection
Why might SEMS negatively affect oncologic outcomes in preoperative esophageal cancer patients
SEMS may induce mural inflammation, potentially distorting tissue planes and interfering with the completeness of surgical resection.
What might upward stent migration rates of up to 50% indicate during neoadjuvant therapy in esophageal cancer patients?
Stent migration may represent a favorable response to neoadjuvant therapy
What is the mainstay treatment for benign esophageal strictures?
Periodic endoscopic balloon dilation
What are common causes of refractory benign esophageal strictures (RBES)?
Caustic injuries
chest or mediastinal radiation
postsurgical esophagodigestive anastomoses
POEM and endoscopic mucosal resection
What are key characteristics of an ideal stent for RBES?
The stent should be easily retrievable and resistant to migration.
Which stent type is most commonly used for RBES
Fully covered self-expanding metal stents (fc-SEMS).
What is an advantage of biodegradable stents (BDS) over fc-SEMS in RBES management?
BDS does not require retrieval