Prospective evaluation of a new self-expanding plastic stent for inoperable esophageal strictures

Abstract

Self-expanding Polyflex stents are safe and effective for inoperable esophageal strictures and have an acceptable technical success rate. Further experience, better selection criteria, and design improvements should improve results.

Stent implantation as a treatment option in patients with thoracic anastomotic leaks after esophagectomy

“…This is considerable higher than reported in other studies (18.7 to 20.5%) [15,18]. However, in these studies patients with strictures or malignant stenosis were included.…”

Polyflex self-expanding, removable plastic stents: assessment of treatment efficacy and safety in a variety of benign and malignant conditions of the esophagus

“…Costamagna et al [18] have suggested that Polyflex stents are less expensive than expandable metal stents. Data on charges from our institution, however, indicate that current charges for all sizes of Polyflex stents are $2,775, compared with the Ultraflex metallic stent, which varies in cost from $1,825 to $2,183.…”

“…The potential advantages offered by this new generation of expandable plastic stents include decreased rate of tissue ingrowth, new stricture formation and increased levels of radial expansion that potentially decrease the need for dilation at the time of insertion, and the possibility of elective removal [14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. Experience with these stents in benign conditions is limited.…”

Nutritional management during neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer

“…More recently removable self-expanding silicone stents have been utilized. The efficacy of self-expanding silicone stents in relieving dysphagia has been demonstrated in patients with unresectable esophageal cancer [57][58][59], but they are also an attractive option for patients in the neoadjuvant setting because they can be removed at the time of resection or once chemoradiation has resolved the tumor mass.…”