Esophageal Stent - Bleeding

Another image and video clip of the first stent As with dilation, technological advances have driven the increased use of, and indications for, endolumenal stents in the alimentary canal. Expandable stent therapy has virtually supplanted conventional prosthesis placement in the esophagus, given the relative ease of placement and improved safety profi le during insertion. Nevertheless, critical evaluation of this technology suggests that the need for intervention actually may increase after placement of expandable esophageal stents. This reintervention is a direct consequence of stent design: uncovered stents elicit granulation tissue and allow tumor ingrowth, and completely covered prostheses have a penchant for migration. All prostheses have the capability of causing erosion with fi stulization, gastrointestinal bleeding, or occlusion by food bolus.