THROUGH-THE-SCOPE ESOPHAGEAL STENT FOR THE RELIEF OF MALIGNANT DYSPHAGIA: RESULTS OF A MULTICENTRIC STUDY (WITH VIDEO)

Aims Esophageal cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. In presence of non-surgical candidate presenting dysphagia, the placement of a self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) represents a safe and effective palliative There are no data in literature about the use of the new Taewoong through-the-scope (TTS) esophageal stent (ES) placed for malignant dysphagia. The aim of our study is to evaluate technical success and clinical efficacy of the new Taewoong ES-TTS esophageal stent in this group of patients.

Methods 40 patients (12F and 28M - mean age: 76±9.1ys) with malignant dysphagia underwent Taewoong ES-TTS, from January 1^st 2017 to June 30^th 2019, in six Italian endoscopic referral centers, were collected. In all of the patients the dysphagia score was evaluated according to the Ogilvie classification.

Results ES-TTS stent placement was successful in 39/40 patients (97.5 %). At the time of procedure, 31 patients had an Ogilvie score of 4, and 9 patients an Ogilvie score 3. After two weeks 29 patients reported an Ogilvie score of 0, eight a score of 1. Two patients suffered stent migration after 5 days and Ogilvie score was not evaluated. 9 of the patients developed retrosternal pain requiring drugs. No patient experienced an early adverse event such perforation, bleeding or migration. A total of 7 delayed AEs occurred in 39 patients (18%). The unique AE was recurrent dysphagia. Three patients experienced recurrent dysphagia because of stent migration. Migration occurred in 3 of 15 FCSEMS after a mean of 10 days (range 5-20 days).

Conclusions ES-TTS placement is a feasible and safety procedure. The efficacy of the new TTS esophageal stent, in the relief of malignant dysphagia, is comparable to the standard OTW esophageal stent but adverse events seems to be reduced. Migration rate was higher for the FCSEMS.