title: Metallic self-expanding stent application in the upper gastrointestinal tract: caveats and concerns.
abstract: Ten patients with a variety of upper gastrointestinal tract stenoses precluding conventional prostheses or associated with recurrent occlusions of these prostheses, had an expandable metal Z stent placed. All patients had successful insertion (esophagus, five; biliary, three; afferent loop, one; efferent loop, one), although there was a tendency for the prostheses to delivery distally (gut) or proximally (biliary tree). Despite patency rates for up to 6 months in the esophagus and 1 year in the biliary tree, additional data and design modifications are required before widespread utilization.
authors.affiliation: Section of Gastroenterology, Virginia Mason Clinic, Seattle, Washington 98111.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kozarek
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Patterson
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004064:Digestive System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D020776:Endoscopes, Gastrointestinal; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D015607:Stents