Fracture of a self-expandable metallic stent inserted for malignant gastric outlet obstruction

Abstract

Duodenal stenting has gradually been established as the first-line treatment for malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). We encountered a case of duodenal stent fracture in a 76-year-old woman with gastric cancer and GOO. She underwent self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placement. The SEMS was found to be fractured 4 weeks after its placement. We removed the broken part of the stent and placed a second SEMS. SEMS fracture is a rare and - to the best of our knowledge - unreported complication; hence, clinicians and their patients should be aware of this possibility.