Retrievable Z-stents for the treatment of refractory corrosive esophageal strictures in children.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

The use of retrievable esophageal stents represents a new method to avoid multiple dilations for stenosis recurrence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of treatment with a retrievable covered Z-stent for corrosive esophageal stenosis in children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A total of 15 children were enrolled in this study. All patients had undergone balloon catheter dilatation (BCD) but without significant symptomatic improvement. A retrievable Z-stent was placed, and the dysphagia score was evaluated. After stent removal, healing was considered to have occurred if the score was 0 to 1 for at least 12 continuous months.

RESULTS:

Stents were placed in all children without complications and were later removed successfully. Stents remained in situ for 4 to 8 weeks (mean, 7.4 weeks). Dysphagia scores decreased from 3 to 4 to 0 to 1 in all patients while the stent was in place. During the 12-month follow-up period, seven patients remained free from dysphagia, but eight children had recurrent stenosis and required a subsequent BCD to alleviate symptoms from the stricture. Six of them required placement of a second stent.

CONCLUSIONS:

The use of a retrievable Z-stent is an effective method and may become the treatment of choice for corrosive esophageal stenosis in children.

• Authors: Jiahe Zheng, Zhihui Chang, Zhaoyu Liu, Zaiming Lu, Jian Zhao, Yujia Ma, Jun Zhang, Chuanzhuo Wang, Qiyong Guo
• Journal: European journal of pediatric surgery : official journal of Austrian Association of Pediatric Surgery ... [et al] = Zeitschrift fur Kinderchirurgie (Eur J Pediatr Surg) Vol. 25 Issue 2 Pg. 160-4 (Apr 2015) ISSN: 1439-359X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24327217 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Topics

• Adolescent
• Burns, Chemical (complications)
• Chest Pain (etiology)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Deglutition Disorders (etiology, therapy)
• Device Removal
• Dilatation
• Esophageal Stenosis (diagnostic imaging, etiology, therapy)
• Female
• Foreign-Body Migration (etiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Nausea (etiology)
• Radiography
• Recurrence
• Retrospective Studies
• Stents (adverse effects)
• Treatment Outcome