What are endoscopic stents?
Endoscopic stents are small, flexible, and hollow tube-like structures placed inside the body using a thin device with a camera and light called an endoscope. They help keep blocked or narrowed gastrointestinal passageways open, allowing food and fluids to pass through more easily. Doctors commonly use stents to treat problems in the digestive system, often in the esophagus, stomach, bile ducts, pancreas, or intestines.
At MedStar Health, our team has extensive experience caring for patients with complex digestive and liver conditions. Our gastroenterologists and hepatobiliary specialists work together using the latest advanced endoscopic techniques, including stent placement, to provide personalized, expert care.
Placing an endoscopic stent is often just one part of a bigger, comprehensive treatment plan. Our multidisciplinary approach means you receive coordinated care from a team of specialists dedicated to your health and recovery.
When are endoscopic stents used?
Endoscopic stents are used to help open up or keep open areas in the digestive system that have become blocked or narrowed. These stents can be temporary or permanent, depending on the reason for treatment.
Common reasons for using endoscopic stents include:
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Cancer-related blockages: Stents can help keep organs open when cancer in the esophagus, bile ducts, pancreas, or colon causes narrowing or blockage.
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Benign strictures: Scar tissue from radiation treatment or inflammation can cause narrowing that a stent can help open.
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Bile duct blockages: Conditions like bile duct or pancreatic cancer, or gallstones blocking the bile flow, can be treated with stents to improve drainage.
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Leaks or fistulas: Stents can help seal or manage leaks and abnormal connections in the digestive tract.
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During colon surgery: Sometimes stents are placed temporarily to relieve blockages before or after surgery.
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Palliative care: For patients who cannot have surgery, stents may be used to relieve symptoms, improve comfort, and maintain quality of life.
What are the benefits and risks of endoscopic stents?
Benefits
Stents are an effective way to open narrowed or blocked areas in the digestive tract, improving symptoms like difficulty swallowing, pain, or digestive blockages. There are many other advantages, including:
- Minimally invasive: The procedure is done without large incisions, usually on an outpatient basis, allowing for a quicker recovery.
- Improves quality of life: For patients who aren’t candidates for surgery, stents can provide symptom relief and help improve comfort.
- Part of comprehensive care: Stent placement is often combined with other treatments to address underlying conditions.
Risks and possible complications
While endoscopic stent placement is generally safe, there are some risks to consider:
- Discomfort or pain: Mild discomfort or cramping is common after the procedure.
- Migration: The stent may move from its original position and need adjustment.
- Blockage or clogging: Food or tissue can sometimes block the stent, requiring follow-up care.
- Infection or bleeding: Though rare, infections or bleeding can occur and need medical attention.
- Perforation: A small risk of tearing the digestive tract during placement, which may require additional treatment.
Our expert team at MedStar Health will carefully evaluate your health and discuss all benefits and risks before recommending stent placement. We’ll be with you every step of the way to ensure safe, effective care.
How do endoscopic stents work?
If your doctor recommends an endoscopic stent, here’s what you can expect before, during, and after the procedure.
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Before the procedure
You’ll meet with your gastroenterologist or surgeon to discuss your health and the reason for the stent. You may be asked to avoid eating or drinking for several hours before the procedure. Because you will receive sedation to keep you comfortable and relaxed, you won’t be able to drive yourself home afterward. Plan to have a friend or family member drive you.
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During the procedure
Endoscopic stents can be placed using different techniques, including advanced procedures like ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography), which requires exceptional training, skill, and experience. At MedStar Health, our specialists are highly skilled in these complex techniques and perform a high-volume of these procedures every year.
The stent is placed using an endoscope—a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera on the end. Your doctor will guide a thin wire through the endoscope to the blocked area. To see exactly where the stent needs to go, the doctor uses fluoroscopy, a special kind of real-time X-ray. This helps ensure the stent is placed precisely where it is needed.
Once the wire is in place, the stent is threaded over it and expanded to open the blocked passage. The entire process usually takes less than an hour, and most patients can go home the same day.
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After the procedure
After stent placement, it can take 24 to 48 hours for the stent to reach its full size and open the passage completely. While many patients feel relief quickly and have no symptoms, some may experience mild reflux, discomfort, or cramping during this time.
Our team will provide clear instructions for your recovery, including what to expect, how to care for yourself, and when to reach out if you have questions.
Managing endoscopic stents
After your stent is placed, ongoing care is important to keep it working well and to prevent complications.
- Some stents, especially those placed temporarily for benign conditions like scar tissue, may need to be changed every three months. This helps reduce the risk of infection and keeps the stent functioning properly.
- When stents are used for palliative care—to relieve symptoms from cancer or other serious conditions—they are often left in place permanently. Over time, these stents may become blocked or clogged with food, tissue, or mucus. If that happens, your doctor can carefully clean or replace the stent during a follow-up endoscopic procedure to restore proper flow and comfort.
We provide close monitoring and personalized follow-up care to make sure your stent continues to help you feel your best.
Why choose us
When it comes to your digestive health, experience and teamwork matter. At MedStar Health, you’ll receive care from one of the most experienced and highly trained teams in the region, with a track record of treating a high volume of patients using advanced endoscopic techniques. Here you’ll find:
- Unmatched expertise: Our gastroenterologists, interventional endoscopists, and hepatobiliary surgeons are leaders in their fields, using the most advanced tools and procedures available.
- Multidisciplinary team approach: We bring together experts from multiple specialties—including gastroenterology, cancer care, surgery, radiology, and nutrition—to create one personalized care plan that’s right for you.
- Comprehensive care for complex conditions: Whether your condition is routine or highly complex, we have the skill and experience to manage it safely and effectively.
- Coordinated, compassionate support: From diagnosis through recovery, our team works closely with you and your loved ones to make sure you feel informed, supported, and cared for at every step.
At MedStar Health, we don’t just place stents—we provide whole-person care tailored to your individual needs.
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Getting the care you need starts with seeing one of our gastroenterologists.
Frequently asked questions
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What are the different types of gastrointestinal stents?
Endoscopic stents can be used throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, depending on where the blockage or narrowing is located:
- An esophageal stent is used to open the esophagus when swallowing becomes difficult, often due to cancer or scarring.
- A biliary stent helps drain bile when the bile ducts are blocked, commonly from gallstones, pancreatic cancer, or bile duct cancer.
- A duodenal stent is placed in the first part of the small intestine to help food pass when the area is narrowed or blocked.
- A colon stent is used to relieve large bowel obstructions, often in cases of colon cancer or to support recovery after surgery.
Each type of stent serves a different purpose, and your care team will recommend the right option based on your condition and overall health.
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How long will my stent last?
Temporary stents are often used for benign conditions and may need to be replaced every few months. Permanent stents are more commonly used for palliative care or certain cancers and are designed to stay in place longer. These stents may still need cleaning or adjustment over time.
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What are the signs that a stent is blocked or not working?
If your stent becomes clogged or moves out of place, you might notice warning signs like pain, nausea, vomiting, jaundice (yellowing of the skin/eyes), or trouble swallowing or passing stool, depending on where the stent is located. If you experience any of these signs, contact your doctor right away.
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