Complications of stent placement for benign stricture of gastrointestinal tract.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the frequent complications of stent placement for stricture of the gastrointestinal tract and to find proper treatment.


METHODS
A total number of 140 stents were inserted in 138 patients with benign stricture of the gastrointestinal tract. The procedure was completed under fluoroscopy in all of the patients.


RESULTS
Stents were successfully placed in all the 138 patients. Pains occurred in 23 patients (16.7%), slight or dull pains were found in 21 patients and severe chest pain in 2 respectively. For the former type of pain, the patients received only analgesia or even no treatment, while peridural anesthesia was conducted for the latter condition. Reflux occurred in 16 of these patients (11.6%) after stent placement. It was managed by common antireflux procedures. Gastrointestinal bleeding occurred in 13 patients (9.4%), and was treated by hemostat. Restenosis of the gastrointestinal tract occurred in 8 patients (5.8%), and was apparently associated with hyperplasia of granulation tissue. In 2 patients, the second stent was placed under X-ray guidance. The granulation tissue was removed by cauterization through hot-node therapy under gastroscope guidance in 3 patients, and surgical reconstruction was performed in another 3 patients. Stent migration occurred in 5 patients (3.6%), and were extracted with the aid of a gastroscope. Food-bolus obstruction was encountered in 2 patients (1.4%) and was treated by endoscope removal. No perforation occurred in all patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Frequent complications after stent placement for benign stricture of the gastrointestinal tract include pain, reflux, bleeding, restenosis, stent migration and food-bolus obstruction. They can be treated by drugs, the second stent placement or gastroscopic procedures according to the specific conditions.
Cheng
Ying-Sheng
YS
Department of Radiology, Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200233, China. chengys@sh163.net
Li
Ming-Hua
MH
Chen
Wei-Xiong
WX
Chen
Ni-Wei
NW
Zhuang
Qi-Xin
QX
Shang
Ke-Zhong
KZ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D016154:Digestive System Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*