537 - Esophageal Stenting Redefined : Expanding Horizons with Interventional Radiology Guided Approach

Purpose: To evaluate the safety, feasibility, and clinical impact of interventional radiology–guided esophageal stenting in malignant esophageal obstruction, with emphasis on quality-of- life improvement and symptom relief.

Materials and Methods: Nineteen patients with malignant esophageal obstruction underwent IR-guided stenting.Data collected included demographics, obstruction site, fistula status, technical and clinical success, complications, stent size, and survival. WHOQOL-BREF scores
(physical, psychological, social, environmental) and symptoms (reflux, cough, pain, dysphagia) were recorded before and after stenting. Group averages were compared.

Results: Middle-third disease predominated (52.6%), with gastroesophageal junction involvement in 15.8% and fistulas in 52.6%. Technical success was 94.7% and clinical success 78.9%. No re-obstruction was observed. Complications occurred in 30.8% of evaluable cases, all minor. Median survival was 30 days (mean 113, range 4–630). Quality-of-life improved across all domains: physical 32.1%→44.6% (+12.4), psychological 26.5%→41.3% (+14.7), social 42.1%→46.1% (+4.0), and environmental 35.9%→45.4% (+9.6). The overall QOL score increased from 34.2% to 44.3% (absolute gain +10.2, relative +29.8%). Symptom relief was significant: reflux-free patients rose from 36.8% to 73.7% (+36.9), cough-free from 26.3% to 52.6% (+26.3), mean dysphagia score decreased from 3.8 to 2.4 (−1.5), and pain score from 4.9 to 4.6 (−0.3).

Conclusion: IR-guided esophageal stenting is a safe, technically feasible, and effective palliative intervention. It provides high procedural success, consistent improvement in quality-of-life (notably in physical and psychological domains), and substantial relief of dysphagia,reflux, and cough, with minimal complications.