Self-expanding stent in the treatment of benign esophageal strictures: experimental study in pigs and presentation of clinical cases.

The reaction of the normal esophageal wall to inserted self-expanding nitinol stents was studied in pigs. An inflammatory reaction with increasing fibrotic activity and degeneration of the muscular layers in the esophageal wall was demonstrated. Five patients with severe dysphagia secondary to benign esophageal strictures also underwent insertion of self-expanding nitinol stents. All of the stents expanded completely, with subsequent regression of dysphagia. One treated esophagus was resected and showed deep implantation of the stent meshwork in the esophageal wall. Significant stenoses secondary to tissue hyperplasia, located at the edges of the stent, occurred in two patients. These results show that self-expanding nitinol stents may be used for palliation of dysphagia in patients with benign esophageal strictures. Because of the observed reactions in the esophageal wall, such treatment should be restricted to selected patients until more experience has been gained.