TY - JOUR T1 - Fully covered stents versus partially covered stents for palliative treatment of esophageal cancer: Is there a difference? JO - Revista de Gastroenterología de México T2 - AU - Alonso Lárraga,J.O. AU - Flores Carmona,D.Y. AU - Hernández Guerrero,A. AU - Ramírez Solís,M.E. AU - de la Mora Levy,J.G. AU - Sánchez del Monte,J.C. SN - 2255534X M3 - 10.1016/j.rgmxen.2018.05.007 DO - 10.1016/j.rgmxen.2018.05.007 UR - http://revistagastroenterologiamexico.org/en-fully-covered-stents-versus-partially-articulo-S2255534X18300550 AB - Introduction and aimsMalignant dysphagia is difficulty swallowing resulting from esophageal obstruction due to cancer. The goal of palliative treatment is to reduce the dysphagia and improve oral dietary intake. Self-expandable metallic stents are the current treatment of choice, given that they enable the immediate restoration of oral intake. The aim of the present study was to describe the results of using totally covered and partially covered esophageal stents for palliating esophageal cancer. Materials and methodsA retrospective study was conducted on patients with inoperable esophageal cancer treated with self-expandable metallic stents. The 2 groups formed were: group A, which consisted of patients with a fully covered self-expandable stent (SX-ELLA®), and group B, which was made up of patients with a partially covered self-expandable stent (Ultraflex®). ResultsOf the 69-patient total, 50 were included in the study. Group A had 19 men and 2 women and their mean age was 63.6 years (range 41-84). Technical success was achieved in 100% (n=21) of the cases and clinical success in 90.4% (n=19). Group B had 24 men and 5 women and their mean age was 67.5 years (range 43-92). Technical success was achieved in 100% (n=29) of the cases and clinical success in 89.6% (n=26). Complications were similar in both groups (33.3 vs. 51.7%). ConclusionThere was no difference between the 2 types of stent for the palliative treatment of esophageal cancer with respect to technical success, clinical success, or complications. ER -