title: Minimizing endoscopic complications: endoluminal stents.
abstract: Almost all endoluminal stents used by gastroenterologists in the United States are self-expandable metal stents, and they are placed most commonly for relief of malignant luminal obstruction. Recently, a plastic self-expandable stent was approved for treating refractory benign esophageal strictures. Endoluminal stent placement is associated with myriad of complications. Some of these complications can be avoided or minimized by the endoscopist, whereas others are beyond the endoscopist's control. This article covers the various complications that can occur following self-expandable stent placement and provides recommendations on how to minimize these complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street Southwest, Charlton 8, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. baron.todd@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Todd H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Baron
mesh_terms: D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome