Early metal stent insertion fails to prevent stricturing after single-stage complete Barrett's excision for high-grade dysplasia and early cancer

Background: Barrett's esophagus with high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or intramucosal adenocarcinoma (IMC) can be effectively treated by single-session EMR, resulting in complete Barrett's excision (CBE). CBE provides accurate histology for staging and clinical confirmation of neoplasia eradication but is limited by a high risk of esophageal stricture formation.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of prophylactic temporary esophageal stenting to prevent post-CBE stricture formation.

Design and Setting: Single-center, investigator-initiated feasibility study.

Patients: Circumferential, short-segment Barrett's esophagus (

Intervention: Single-stage CBE and insertion of a fully covered metal esophageal stent at 10 days that was removed at 8 weeks. Patients were followed for a minimum of 2 surveillance endoscopies.

Main Outcome Measurement: Symptomatic esophageal stricture formation.

Results: At the end of the follow-up period, 8 patients (57.1%) required esophageal dilation for symptomatic CBE-related (n = 7) or stent-related (n = 4) strictures. A median of 3 surveillance endoscopies were performed over a median endoscopic follow-up of 17 months (range 4-25 months). Single-stage CBE successfully eliminated Barrett's intestinal metaplasia and neoplasia in 71.4% and 92.9% of patients, respectively. Four patients were admitted to the hospital, and 4 patients had early stent removal because of pain or dysphagia.

Limitations: Single-center feasibility study.

Conclusions: In a prospective study evaluating prophylactic esophageal stent insertion after single-stage CBE, esophageal strictures formed in more than of half the study cohort, and stents were associated with significant morbidity. An alternative method to reduce stricture formation is required.