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Esophageal Stents: Indications and Placement Techniques

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Self-Expandable Stents in the Gastrointestinal Tract

Abstract

For over a century, the creation of a new esophageal lumen through an obstruction – either benign or malignant – by the placement of an endoprosthesis has been possible. Though the concept has not changed during that time, the materials used certainly have. The use of catheter-bound, self-expanding metal as well as plastic stents has led to an easier and far safer means of minimally invasive treatments for a variety of conditions within the esophagus. Malignant esophageal obstruction remains, by far, the leading indication for esophageal stent placement; however, other conditions such as tracheoesophageal fistula, refractory benign esophageal strictures, iatrogenic perforation, and anastomotic leaks can also be successfully managed in this fashion. Esophageal stent placement is safe and technically feasible in most patients, and the devices are associated with high rates of initial symptom relief and leak closure. Despite this, the major drawback for these devices remains the high rate of reintervention due to stent occlusion and migration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Digestive Disease Institute, Virginia Mason Medical Center and University of Washington, 1100 9th Ave., C3-GAS, Seattle, WA, 98111, USA

    Andrew S. Ross M.D. & Richard A. Kozarek M.D.

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  1. Andrew S. Ross M.D.
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  2. Richard A. Kozarek M.D.
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Correspondence to Andrew S. Ross M.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Virginia Mason Medical Center, Digestive Disease Institute, 1100 Ninth Ave, Seattle, 98111, Washington, USA

    Richard Kozarek

  2. , Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatol, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, 55905, Minnesota, USA

    Todd Baron

  3. , Department of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, Pungnap-2Dong 388-1, Seoul, 138-736, Korea, Republic of (South Korea)

    Ho-Young Song

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Ross, A.S., Kozarek, R.A. (2013). Esophageal Stents: Indications and Placement Techniques. In: Kozarek, R., Baron, T., Song, HY. (eds) Self-Expandable Stents in the Gastrointestinal Tract. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3746-8_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3746-8_9

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