Digestive stent placement

Endoscopic placement of digestive stents is an interventional technique that involves deploying a metallic or plastic stent (endoprosthesis) in a narrowed or obstructed area of the digestive tract. This procedure restores the patency of the digestive passage and significantly improves the patient's quality of life, often in the context of tumor-related disease. Digestive stents can be placed in the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, colon, bile ducts or pancreatic duct. Self-expanding metallic stents are the most commonly used for tumor-related obstructions, while plastic stents are preferred for benign strictures or temporary obstructions of the bile ducts. The choice of stent type depends on the location, the nature of the obstruction and the patient's prognosis. This technique often provides a palliative alternative to surgery in patients with advanced or inoperable cancers. It restores oral feeding in patients suffering from tumor-related dysphagia, relieves obstructive jaundice or treats colonic obstruction. The placement is performed under endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance to ensure precise positioning. At Clinique Pasteur in Tunis, digestive stent placement is performed by gastroenterologists specialized in interventional endoscopy, in collaboration with the anesthesia and radiology teams. All types of stents are available to address every clinical situation.