ENDOSCOPIC ESOPHAGEAL ENDOPROSTHESIS FOR INOPERABLE ESOPHAGEAL CANCER

Abstract

Application of esophageal endoprosthesis under endoscopic guidance was attempted in 2 patients with inoperable esophageal cancer. The endoprosthesis tube used was a Celestin-Pulsion tube. The endoscope (Olympus, GIF-Q) equipped with the Celestin-Pulsion tube and a introducer was inseted into the esophagus and passed through the esophageal stricture. The prosthesis tube was then placed in the stricture under endoscopic guidance and fluoroscopic control.
Endoscopic esophageal endoprosthesis was successfully applied in two patients without any complication. These patients showed better oral intake of food just after the procedure. Although reflux esophagitis and esophagotracheal fistula were clearly observed in autopsy specimens, application of the Celestin-Pulsion tube for inoperable esophageal cancer was a safe and effective procedure.