Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Z-type stainless steel stent and memory alloy net-like stent are commonly used for esophageal surgery at present, while whether there are differences in efficacy between them is still confused.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of implantation of esophageal stent with different materials and structures on treatment of patients with malignant esophageal strictures using life quality questionnaire.
METHODS: A total of 79 patients with advanced esophageal cancer were involved. Thirty-eight patients were treated with Chinese-made Z-type stainless steel stent and 41 patients were implanted with nickel-titanium shape-memory alloy net-like stent. Evaluation of universal life quality questionnaire and specific questionnaire of esophageal cancer was performed at 1 and 3 months after implantation.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The universal life quality questionnaire showed that the physical, role, emotional and social function scores and general healthy scores of all patients after implantation were obviously increased than before (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). The specific questionnaire of esophageal cancer showed there were no significant differences in each functional score and general healthy score before and after implantation  (P > 0.05). However, the scores were reduced at 1 and 3 months after implantation, and the scores of each function and general health in the memory alloy net-like stent group were obviously higher than those in the Z-type stainless steel stent group (P > 0.05). The results indicate that both Z-type stainless steel stent and nickel-titanium shape-memory alloy net-like stent can improve the life quality of patients with malignant esophageal strictures, but the nickel-titanium shape-memory alloy net-like stent is superior to the Z-type stainless steel stent in improving the specific life quality scores of esophageal cancer.