< // // // //

Case 114: Dysphagia

A 71 year old man was having trouble swallowing.

1. Describe the xray findings?

There is an oesophageal stent in the posterior mediastinum.

2. What techniques are there for palliating dysphagia?

Bougie: self administered, or under anaeasthesia
Endoscopic: dilataion (balloon, Keymed, or Bougie), laser, prosthetic stents

Oncological: chemotherapy
Radiotherapy: external beam or less commonly brachytherapy
Conservative: analgesia, full palliation

3. What new symptoms may this man now complain of?

Reflux as this long stent would probably sit with its distal end within the stomach lumen, hence stenting open the lower oesophageal sphincter.

See video of stent insertion