Abstract:Progressive dysphagia is common in patients with advanced esophageal carcinoma. Multiple nonsurgical techniques are available to provide palliation and improved nutrition. Simple dilatation is the oldest technique and newer methods may offer greater efficacy. Laser therapy now provides an excellent opportunity to treat obstructing tumors. Placement of an esophageal prosthesis may become particularly useful when dilatation must be performed too frequently or has become ineffective or in the patient with an esop… Show more
“…Traditionally laser vaporization has been the treatment of choice in many patients, although there remains some controversy. Nd-YAG laser therapy is a well-established, relatively safe, rapid, and highly effective method for palliation of malignant dysphagia [5]. The major limitation of laser therapy is the need for repeated treatments, usually every 8-12 weeks [24].…”
Approximately 40-50% of patients with gastrointestinal tumors are not candidates for curative surgery because of locally advanced tumors or metastatic disease. In the course of the disease most of these patients will require palliative treatment because of obstruction, fistula, pain or hemorrhage. Various endoscopic and surgical procedures can be offered to these patients to alleviate the symptoms of the disease, to improve quality of life and to increase their survival time. However, the potential risk of each treatment must be balanced carefully with the expected benefits and the prognosis of the individual patient. Consequently, minimally invasive procedures, i.e. endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures, have been increasingly used for palliation in recent years. This article provides an overview on endoscopic and surgical palliation of gastrointestinal tumors on the basis of our own experience and a review of the literature.
“…Traditionally laser vaporization has been the treatment of choice in many patients, although there remains some controversy. Nd-YAG laser therapy is a well-established, relatively safe, rapid, and highly effective method for palliation of malignant dysphagia [5]. The major limitation of laser therapy is the need for repeated treatments, usually every 8-12 weeks [24].…”
Approximately 40-50% of patients with gastrointestinal tumors are not candidates for curative surgery because of locally advanced tumors or metastatic disease. In the course of the disease most of these patients will require palliative treatment because of obstruction, fistula, pain or hemorrhage. Various endoscopic and surgical procedures can be offered to these patients to alleviate the symptoms of the disease, to improve quality of life and to increase their survival time. However, the potential risk of each treatment must be balanced carefully with the expected benefits and the prognosis of the individual patient. Consequently, minimally invasive procedures, i.e. endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures, have been increasingly used for palliation in recent years. This article provides an overview on endoscopic and surgical palliation of gastrointestinal tumors on the basis of our own experience and a review of the literature.
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