Background: This study aims to present the complications arising from self-expanding metallic stents placed in patients with esophageal cancer and the treatment methods for these complications.

Methods: The study included 268 patients with inoperable esophageal cancer (140 males, 128 females; mean age 64.4±16.3 years; range 28 to 91 years) who were placed 334 metallic stents in our clinic between January 2000 and December 2014. Patients who developed complications and treatment approaches adopted for these complications were evaluated retrospectively.

Results: Totally, we observed 365 complications. We detected major complications in 30 patients [13 hemorrhages (4.8%), 9 aspiration pneumonias (3.4%), 3 tracheal compressions (1.1%), 2 perforations (0.7%), and 3 esophagorespiratory fistulas (1.1%)] and minor complications in 334 patients [245 chest pains (91.4%), 36 tumor overgrowths (13.4%), 1 tumor ingrowth (0.4%), 10 partial stent migrations (3.7%), 8 falling of stents into the stomach (2.9%), 12 gastroesophageal refluxes (4.5%), 8 stent placement failures (2.9%), 5 hiccups (1.9%), 2 foreign body sensations (0.7%), 2 stent expansion failures (0.7%), 1 granulation tissue formation (0.4%), 3 food bolus obstructions (1.1%), 1 skin erosion (0.4%), and 1 stent fracture (0.4%)]. Before and after stent placement, mean dysphagia scores were 3.6 and 2.4, respectively. Mortality was observed in four patients (1.5%) after stent placement.

Conclusion: Although esophageal stent placement is a safe and effective method, it leads to many complications. Knowing how to treat these complications may increase patient’s quality of life and decrease morbidity and mortality.

Keywords : Complication; esophageal cancer; stent; treatment