Comparison of coated and bare metallic stents in inoperable carcinomas of the oesophagus and cardia

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: The authors discuss paliative treatment using coated and bare metallic stents in a prospective randomized study for inoperable oesophageal carcinomas. The aim of this study is to assess the following parameters in both treatment groups: duration of the stents functionality, survival rates, complications rates and histological findings. METHODS: From 1999 to 2003, the total of 60 patients with oesophageal and cardial carcinomas were randomized. They had either bare (N-31 subjects) or coated (P-29 subjects) stents introduced. The patients were followed-up at one-month intervals. RESULTS: No statistical differences between the groups were found when the above parameters were assessed. DISCUSSION: The complications rate depended on the patients survival period in both stent types. Survival rates depended on the disease stage of the local tumorous process and on the individual patient's condition prior to the treatment. CONCLUSION: The study showed that the metallic selfexpandible stents treatment method may become a widely used paliative procedure in patients with malignant dysphagia, however, it has not proved any differences in complication rates depending on the stent coating.