Coated and uncoated self-expanding metal stents for malignant stenosis in the upper GI tract: preliminary clinical experiences with Wallstents.

Abstract

Implantation of esophageal Wallstents is safe and has a low risk of acute complications and mortality for the patient. Early complications such as perforation and bleeding did not occur. Tumor ingrowth/overgrowth are the major reasons for the high reintervention rate in the follow-up period. Coated stents can resolve this problem, provided that stent migration can be avoided by improvement of the coating technology.