Memory metal stents for palliation of XXXX .

@entity1 @entity158 @entity5 @entity1282
Thirty @entity1 with incurable @entity5 were treated with self expanding oesophageal memory metal stents (Ultraflex) in a prospective study. The endoprostheses were successfully placed in all @entity1 . Within one week after implantation @entity1282 had improved in 25 of 30 @entity1 (83%). Stent expansion was incomplete within one week after implantation in 12 of 30 @entity1 (40%). After an average of two dilatation sessions eight of 12 stents had expanded completely. Five @entity1 complained of @entity158 and three of them suffered from heartburn over several days despite acid inhibition. Major problems in the follow up period occurred in 10 of 30 @entity1 (30%) and included late perforation (one) and @entity5 ingrowth/overgrowth (nine). All of these complications were treated endoscopically. Improvement of the @entity1282 of the @entity1 with @entity5 ingrowth/overgrowth lasted for about eight weeks (median; range: 2-38 weeks). Until November 1994 six of 30 @entity1 were still alive with a survival time of 309 days (median; range: 103-368 days). It is concluded that oesophageal memory metal stents are easy to implant, prove effective in the palliation of @entity5 , and have a low risk of severe complications. The only disadvantages are that incomplete initial stent expansion as well as @entity5 ingrowth/overgrowth occurred in nearly one third of the @entity1 .
