[Self-expandable metal prostheses. A new alternative palliative therapy of malignant stenotic lesions of the esophagus].

The treatment of malignant esophageal stenoses is a serious problem which may have a surgical solution at diagnosis in only a selected number of cases. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the main palliative treatments; surgery has a high morbidity and mortality rate. The insertion of esophageal prostheses could be an alternative palliative treatment. From January 1991 to November 1993, 41 autoexpandable metallic prostheses (12 Wallstent type, 19 Strecker type and 1 Rosch-Uchida type) have been implanted in 30 patients with esophageal cancer one with lung cancer and two with radiation induced esophagitis. Technical success resulted in 28 patients; an initial failure requiring a new prosthesis insertion occurred in 5 patients. Technical aspects and results are analyzed.