Expanding role of self expanding esophageal stents

Esophageal cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage and hence carries a poor prognosis with an overall 5-year survival rate of 10% to 15%. Therefore, palliative treatment primarily aimed at the relieving dysphagia is the only available option. Endoscopic placement of self expanding metal stents (SEMS) has become a widely used method for palliation offering prompt relief of dysphagia and numerous reports have shown it to be safe and effective. Secondary to tissue in-growth into the uncovered segments of the stent, SEMS cannot be removed and hence are not approved for benign indications. With the advent of the removable self expanding plastic stents, the indications for esophageal stent insertion have expanded to as bridge to surgery for patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy, for refractory benign esophageal strictures, for non-malignant esophageal perforations, leaks and fistulae, and even for variceal hemorrhage. Newer fully covered SEMS that are potentially removable are also being tried for benign indications but await FDA clearance. Similarly biodegradeable stents for benign disorders and radioactive or drug-eluding stents for malignant disease are hoped to improve the management of esophageal diseases. The purpose of this article is to review the expanding role of self expanding stents in the management of esophageal disorders other than palliating malignant dysphagia and fistulae