biostudies-literatureUnknown9(10)Godin AThoracic surgeons currently have multiple options and strategies to guide treatment in esophageal palliative and emergency conditions. To guide the selection of an individualized palliative approach, physicians, including thoracic surgeons, must take into consideration many factors including prognosis, performance status and comorbidities of patients. For dysphagia more specifically, esophageal stent placement is the most widely used intervention for rapidly relieving dysphagia in inoperable esophageal cancer patients. The combination of esophageal stent placement with other therapies has an impact on palliative care. Innovations including radioactive stents, drug-eluding stents and biodegradable stents will require further evaluation and validation studies. Currently, patients with inoperAnnals of translational medicine905https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8184432biostudies-literatureThe modern approach to esophageal palliative and emergency surgery.PMC8184432Godin ALiberman MfalseThe modern approach to esophageal palliative and emergency surgery.Thoracic surgeons currently have multiple options and strategies to guide treatment in esophageal palliative and emergency conditions. To guide the selection of an individualized palliative approach, physicians, including thoracic surgeons, must take into consideration many factors including prognosis, performance status and comorbidities of patients. For dysphagia more specifically, esophageal stent placement is the most widely used intervention for rapidly relieving dysphagia in inoperable esophageal cancer patients. The combination of esophageal stent placement with other therapies has an impact on palliative care. Innovations including radioactive stents, drug-eluding stents and biodegradable stents will require further evaluation and validation studies. Currently, patients with inoper2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 May2025-06-01T03:30:04.341Z2025-06-01T03:30:04.341ZS-EPMC81844323416453910.21037/atm.2020.03.107