Self-expandable metal stent placement for malignant esophageal strictures - changes in clinical outcomes over time

Self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) are effective for improving dysphagia in patients with incurable esophageal cancer but are also associated with recurrent dysphagia and adverse events. In the past decades, new SEMSs have been introduced, but also patients' risk profiles have altered. It is unknown if these changes have affected SEMS outcomes.

This retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary referral center in the Netherlands. Patients who underwent palliative esophageal SEMS placement for malignant dysphagia between 1994 and 2017 were included. The primary outcome was to assess shifts over time with respect to recurrent dysphagia and adverse events after SEMS placement.

997 patients who underwent SEMS placement were included. Recurrent dysphagia occurred in 309 patients (31 %) and remained stable, although with a trend towards an increase over time (hazard ratio [HR] 1.02 per 1-year increase; P = 0.05). Migration rate significantly increased over time (HR 1.04 per 1-year increase; P = 0.01). SEMS-related complications occurred in 461 patients (46.2 %), with 207 (20.7 %) major and 336 (33.7 %) minor complications. Prior chemoradiotherapy was significantly associated with major complications (HR 1.69; P < 0.001). Pain was the most common adverse event and showed a significant increase over time (P < 0.01). Factors associated with pain were prior chemoradiotherapy, absence of a fistula, axial and radial forces, and squamous cell carcinoma.

Despite the introduction of novel esophageal SEMS designs, recurrent dysphagia has not declined over the years. Stent-related complications have increased in recent years, which seems to be mainly associated with more frequent use of chemoradiotherapy prior to SEMS placement.