Improvement of swallowing ability in advanced oesophageal cancer

Without different types of palliation the patients with inoperable oesophageal cancer have a poor quality of life, rapid weight loss which leads to death. The aim of palliation is the complete relief of dysphagia. Our modified procedure is a simplified way of a well known method described by Tytgat in 1986. The prosthesis is positioned under continuous visual control using only local anaesthesia. This method is safe and not expensive. During the last three years 73 consecutive patients were treated with palliative fiberoscopic intubation with Tygon prosthesis. 46 patients had esophageal carcinoma, 19 had gastric, 8 had pulmonary carcinoma obstructing the gullet. Among them 11 patients had bronchoesophageal fistula. The early complications were perforations (7) bleeding (2), and later complications: food impaction (5) tumor overgrowth (5) and tube migration (2). The mortality was 2%. All patients have received antibiotic prevention. Although the improvement of life quality is more important than extension of life, for many patients survival will be prolonged due to improved nutrition as a result of treatment. This study summaries our experience with this technique and analyzes the problems and complications encountered in our patients.