Oesophageal self expanding metal stents - Preliminary report about coveredand non-covered types

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and comp lications rate of covered acid non-covered self expanding metal stents in t he palliative treatment of oesophageal dysphagia, Design: In this retrospective non-randomized study, we evaluated 11 non-cov ered and 17 covered stents of different types. Results: Grade of dysphagia and improvement after treatment were similar in both groups, all the seven fistulas were sealed by covered stents, Covered stents seem to he safer regarding the rate of life-threatening comp lications and reinterventions. In contrast to published studies, bleeding was our major complication with death related in half of these patients. Aorto-Oesophageal fistula was prov ed by autopsy in two of them, Conclusions: Covered stents lead to less drawbacks than non-covered ones an d seem to be recommended in the palliation of oesophageal dysphagia even in the absence of fistula.