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Stenting

A stent is a small metal or plastic tube used to relieve blockages in the lower part of the stomach. In gastroenterology, surgeons employ stents to open up the bile ducts, oesophagus, small bowel, and colon that may be diseased or infected. Stents assist patients in resuming natural activities like eating and drinking.

At Apollo Hospitals in Jubilee Hills, our expert gastroenterologists provide advanced stenting procedures for patients in need.

Types of Gastrointestinal Stents

Bile Duct Stents: Patients with pancreatic or cholangiocarcinoma often experience reduced or completely blocked bile flow from the pancreas, gallbladder, and liver into the small intestine. Plastic or metal stents placed in the bile duct help to normalise bile flow.
Esophageal Stents: Patients with esophageal cancer require stents to restore normal esophageal functions. X-ray and endoscopy guide the stent insertion into the oesophagus through the patient’s mouth. These stents help manage tumours in esophageal cancer patients.
Duodenal Stents: Duodenal stents facilitate the flow of contents from the duodenum into the small intestine. Cancerous tumours can block this pathway, necessitating either surgery or stent placement.
Colonic Stents: Patients with colorectal disease or cancer may struggle with digestion and passing stool. Stents placed in the colon help prevent obstructions caused by cancerous tumours and alleviate symptoms of bowel obstruction.

How Is the Stenting Performed?

Before the procedure, the interventional radiologist will use contrast material and X-ray imaging to outline the obstruction. You will receive a local anaesthetic in your throat and mild sedation. The interventional radiologist will insert a device containing a wire and a catheter through your mouth to the blockage in your oesophagus or small intestine.

Once the wire reaches the narrowing, a small balloon will be introduced and gradually inflated to dilate the area around the blockage. After sufficient expansion, the radiologist will implant a stent to bridge the blocked segment and keep it open. Occasionally, a second balloon dilation may be necessary to help the stent expand fully.

If the blockage is in your large intestine, the procedure will be performed through your anus, following the same steps.

For the treatment of a fistula, a stent covered with a membrane will be placed across the fistula beforehand to protect it from intestinal contents.