Experiences with endoscopic placed endoprosthesis in stenosing malignancies of the esophagus and cardia

: Seventy-five patients with obstructing esophagogastric malignancies were palliatively treated by fiberendoscopic insertion of prosthetic tubes. The indications for endoscopic intubation are discussed, the procedure is described. The mortality rate was 6.6%. Complications were obstructions due to food impaction (10), tumor overgrowth (5) or mucosa folds (3), reflux and aspiration (7), dislocation of the prosthesis (5), perforation (1) and desintegration of the tube (1). Normal swallowing was restored in 98% and in general, there was a marked improvement in the quality of life. In summary, we conclude palliative fiberendoscopic intubation as the best existing procedure in patients with an incurable obstructing esophagogastric neoplasm.