gms | German Medical Science

Radiation therapy, extended partial pharyngectomy and salvage procedures support the development of oesophageal stenosis because they have higher rates of complications such as wound heeling disorders and fistulas. Treatment of oesophageal stenosis is difficult and of long duration. This can mean multiple dilatations with bougies or balloon dilatation. In severe cases or in presence of a fistula stent implantation could be a choice.

We included 7 patients in this study which had different histories of treatments. In 4 cases laryngectomy was done as a salvage procedure after radiation. The Intervals between laryngectomy and stent implantation was from 1 month up to 174 months. The length of the Polyflex stent was 90 mm in 3 patients, 120 mm in 3 patients and 150 mm in one patient.

After stent implantation all patients could eat at least semi-solid food except for one patient. Only one patient had severe pain because of the stent and needed pain medication. 5 patients had oral and aboral migrations of the stent. In 3 patients the migration was two or three times. The stent could be repositioned in any case. We found no granulation tissue at the flare or the end of the stent. Fistulas because of too much pressure to the tissue developed in two cases. Arrosions did not occur during the whole study period. Removal of the stent was easy without any complications in 5 patients. In two patients the stent is still in place. In one patient we removed the stent, but had to reimplate because of recurrent stenosis.

The Polyflex stent offers the patient a better quality of life. The stent enables the patients to swallow their salivary and feed themselves without the use of a PEG.