[Prosthetic materials in surgery of esophageal cancer. Personal experience]

Even if the incidence of esophageal carcinoma is low (25% in comparison to rectal cancer) the total mortality of this disease is very high (superior to rectal cancer itself according to Am.Ca.SO. data). That's because of the high number of non resectable patients when they are first seen by the physician for dysphagia. The aim of the treatment in such cases is to permit a sufficiently good intake to the patient avoiding non-acceptable gastrostomy. The authors report their experience using esophageal prosthesis (27 cases). Mortality rate was 3.7% distal migration 7.4%. They report 3 cases of "minor" complication (11.1%). The mean survival was 5.3 months, the quality of life was satisfactory in all treated cases.