ESOPHAGEAL PROSTHESIS IN CANCEROUS STENOSIS - PLACEMENT WITH A DUMON-GILLIARD APPLICATOR IN 342 PATIENTS

Endoscopic placement of an oesophageal prosthesis rapidly brings a sat isfactory comfort to patients with cancer of the oesophagus beyond the therapeutic stage. When the least traumatic technique and materiel ar e used, the procedure is simple and safe, irrespective of the patient' s general condition and the extent of local or regional lesions. The p resent possibility to insert, at the same time, a tracheobronchial pro sthesis broadens the indication to patients who have an oeophagus-airw ay fistula or who suffer from compression of the trachea or the left b ronchus. The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia at the e xpense of a short hospital stay which is always appreciated by this ty pe of patients. The author's 10-year experience of oesophageal prosthe sis placement with the Dumon-Gilliard applicator, is reported.