The Placement of Esophageal Stents in Different Esophageal Disease Related Conditions—A Review

Abstract

In the past, the esophagus diseases causing the patient to unable to intake oral diet such as esophageal strictures, leaks, tracheoesophageal fistulas, etc. were managed by surgical inter-ventions and parenteral nutrition to meet the demand of the body. After the development of technique of stent placement in esopahgus, there was revolutionary change in the management of such conditions promoting patients to take diet orally and improve their nutritional status as well as quality of life. Different types of commercial stents are available in the market with their own pros and cons. Our aim of this study was to review the different stents being used currently in the clinical practice, comparing the stents on their therapeutic outcome and complications, optimal timing of removal of stents for benign conditions and the methods studied by different clinicians to lower the rate of complications and reinterventions.