Endoscopic stenting

Endoscopic stenting
Specialty	Gastroenterology

Endoscopic stenting is a medical procedure by which a stent, a hollow device designed to prevent constriction or collapse of a tubular organ, is inserted by endoscopy. They are usually inserted when a disease process has led to narrowing or obstruction of the organ in question, such as the esophagus or the colon.

There are various types of endoscopic stents: plastic stents, uncovered self-expandable metallic stents, partially covered self-expandable metallic stents, and fully covered self-expandable metallic stents.[1] Self-expandable metallic stents "play an important role in the management of malignant obstructing lesions in the gastrointestinal tract."[2]

A stent may be inserted into the common bile duct during an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, especially if gallstone removal is deemed too risky.[3]

Complications

Some complications of metallic stents are: stent migration (occurring in 20 to 40% of the cases). Stents with anchoring flaps or flared ends can reduce the risk of migration. Cholecystitis can be a complication for stenting of malignant biliary stricture. Stent occlusion may occur from tumor or tissue overgrowth, or due to sludge deposits, causing the development of cholangitis.[1]

References

1. Lam R, Muniraj T (October 2021). "Fully covered metal biliary stents: A review of the literature". World Journal of Gastroenterology. 27 (38): 6357–6373. doi:10.3748/wjg.v27.i38.6357. PMC 8517778. PMID 34720527.
2. McLoughlin MT, Byrne MF (June 2008). "Endoscopic stenting: where are we now and where can we go?". World Journal of Gastroenterology. 14 (24): 3798–3803. doi:10.3748/wjg.14.3798. PMC 2721435. PMID 18609702.
3. "Pancreatic, Gallbladder and Biliary Surgery". Keck Medicine. University of Southern California (USC).