Comparison of Efficacy of Self-Expandable Metallic Stent Placement in the Unresectable Esophageal Cancer Patients

Table 1

Self-expandable metallic stent characteristics.

Characteristics	Gianturco Z-stent	Ultraflex stent	Niti-S stent
Products	Cook Medical Co., Denmark	Boston Scientific Co., Ireland	Taewoong Medical Co., Korea
Material	Stainless	Nitinol	Nitinol
Membrane material	Polyethylene	Polyethylene	Polytetrafluoroethylene
Outside diameter (mm)	18	17	18, 16, 10 (NSu stent)
Major axis (mm)	100, 120, 140	100, 150	80, 100, 120, 150
Delivery system diameter (Fr)	24	24	16.5
Shortening (%)	None	70	70
Softness	−	++	+++
Extended force	+++	++	+
Visibility	Good	Good	Good
Justification	Impossible	Possible	Possible
Removed	Impossible	Possible within 2 weeks	Possible within 2 weeks

+: mild; ++: moderate; +++: severe.