Esophageal Self-expandable Metal Stent for Malignant Strictures: a Safety and Efficacy Study

The complication perforation during stent placement and during follow-up will be measured using patient anamneses and if necessary upper endoscopy and described as present yes or no. After all patients are included, the incidence can be described as percentage.

The complication hemorrhage will be measured during stent placement and follow-up using patient anamneses and if necessary with an upper endoscopy and described as present yes or no. After all patients are included, the incidence can be described as percentage.

The complication fistula formation will be measured during stent placement and during follow-up using patient anamneses and if necessary with an upper endoscopy and is described as present yes or no. After all patients are included, the incidence can be described as percentage.

The complication gastroesophagel reflux will be measured after stent placement with the use of patient anamneses and will be described as present yes or no. After all patients are included, the incidence can be described as percentage.

The complication stent migration will be measured using a new upper endoscopy in case there is recurrent dysphagia (measured with the Ogilvie Dysphagia score from 0 = no dysphagia to 4 = inability to swallow food or liquids, so the higher te score, the worse the outcome) and described as present yes or no. After all patients are included, the incidence can be described as percentage.

The clinical outcome will be measured using the Ogilvie Dysphagia Score to determine whether recurrent dysphagia is present after stent placement during follow-up or until death. The Ogilvie Dysphagia Score is a score ranging from 0 = no dysphagia to 4 = inability to swallow any food or liquids, so the higher te score, the worse the outcome.

Technical successful stent placement will be measured during stent placement whether the stent is in the correct position (covering the whole stenosis) and is described as yes or no. After all patients are included, the incidence can be described as percentage.

Recurrent dysphagia will be asked from the patient and will be measured with the Ogilvie Dysphagia score (ranging from 0 = no dysphagia to 4 = inability to swallow any food or liquids, so the higher te score, the worse the outcome). After all patients are included, the incidence can be described as percentage.

Pain related to esophageal stent (placement) measured daily using a patient diary which scores the Visual Analogue Scale (ranging from 0 = no pain to 10 = the worst pain imaginable, so the higher the score, the worse the outcome) during the first two weeks, after this every 4 weeks a telephone call with the patient will be held to discuss pain using the Visual Analogue Scale as well until death/stent removal, or until a maximum of 6 months follow-up)

Overall survival measured in days

Patient age at baseline, so at the day of stent placement, measured in years

Patient gender at baseline, at the day of stent placement, measured as male or female

Location of the tumor in the esophagus, measured in cm from incisors during stent placement

Histology of the tumor in the esophagus, measured from biopsy results from upper endoscopies perfomed prior to the stent placement

Length of the stent, determined during stent placement in millimeters

Diameter of the stent, determined during stent placement in millimeters

Determining whether patient received radiotherapy prior to the stent placement, described as yes or no

Determining whether patient received chemotherapy prior to the stent placement, described as yes or no