Stent is a medical device originally designed for recanalization and/or sealing of any obstructing or leaking lesion. In gastroenterology, it has a major role in recanalization of gastrointestinal (GI) tumors and postoperative leak sealing. Among several materials and models used in stent manufacturing, self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) are the most common used stents. Over the years, SEMS has evolved into a standard of care medical device in several oncological conditions, such as advanced esophageal cancer. Other potential applications are drug-eluting devices, scar tissue modeling for benign conditions, and GI tract drainage/anastomosis. The aim of this chapter is to review the most common GI stent models and its indications in gastrointestinal diseases.
Part of the book: Advanced Endoscopy