Complications of stent placement for benign stricture of gastrointestinal tract

AIM:To observe the frequent complications of stentplacement for stricture of the gastrointestinal tract and tofind proper treatment.METHODS:A total number of 140 stents were inserted in 138patients with benign stricture of the gastrointestinal tract.Theprocedure was completed under fluorcscopy in all of the patients.RESULTS:Stents were successfully placed in all the 138patients.Pains occurred in 23 patients (16.7%),slight or dullpains were found in 21 patients and severe chest pain in 2respectively.For the former type of pain,the patients receivedonly analgesia or even no treatment,while peridural anesthesicswas conducted for the latter condition.Reflux occurred in 16of these patients (11.6%) after stent placement.It wasmanaged by common antireflux procedures.Gastrointestinalbleeding occurred in 13 patients (9.4%),and was treated byhemostat.Restenosis of the gastrointestinal tract occurredin 8 patients (5.8%),and was apparently associated withhyperplasia of granulation tissue.In 2 patients,the secondstent was placed under X-ray guidance.The granulation tissuewas removed by cauterization through hot-node therapy undergastroscope guidance in 3 patients,and surgical reconstructionwas performed in another 3 patients.Stent migration occurredin 5 patients (3.6%),and were extracted with the aid of agastroscope.Food-bolus obstruction was encountered in 2patients (1.4%) and was treated by endoscope removal.Noperforation Occurred in all patients.CONCLUSION:Frequent complications after stent placementfor benign stricture of the gastrointestinal tract include pain,reflux,bleeding,restenosis,stent migration and food-bolusobstruction.They can be treated by drugs,the second stentplacement or gastroscopic procedures according to thespecific conditions.