Oesophageal self expanding metal stents. Preliminary report about covered and non-covered types.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and complications rate of covered and non-covered self expanding metal stents in the palliative treatment of oesophageal dysphagia.

Design: In this retrospective non-randomized study, we evaluated 11 non-covered and 17 covered stents of different types.

Results: Grade of dysphagia and improvement after treatment were similar in both groups, all the seven fistulas were sealed by covered stents. Covered stents seem to be safer regarding the rate of life-threatening complications and reinterventions. In contrast to published studies, bleeding was our major complication with death related in half of these patients. Aorto-Oesophageal fistula was proved by autopsy in two of them.

Conclusions: Covered stents lead to less drawbacks than non-covered ones and seem to be recommended in the palliation of oesophageal dysphagia even in the absence of fistula.