Why would you need a stent in your colon?

Your doctor has recommended the placement of a stent in your colon to improve your symptoms of a blockage in your bowel. A stent is a self expanding, wire mesh tube that is designed to hold open the blocked area in your bowel.

What is colonic stenting?

What is a colonic stent? This is a flexible, metallic tube specially designed to hold open a part of your bowel that is either partially or totally blocked. The blockage reduces the flow of waste products along the bowel.

Do they put stents in the colon?

Colonic stenting is a technique used to treat obstructed portions of the large intestine. The technique makes use of a flexible, hollow tube called a stent to expand and open the blocked section of the colon. It is most effective for patients with colon cancer or other forms of bowel blockage.

How long do colonic stents last?

Maintenance of colonic decompression without the recurrence of bowel obstruction until patient death or last follow-up was lower in the SEMS group (73.9 %) than in the surgery group (94.4 %; P = 0.02). The median duration of first stent patency was 19 weeks (range 12 – 44 weeks).

What to expect after a colonic stent?

The stent begins to expand as soon as it is released into the bowel. This can feel uncomfortable, but is not usually painful. You may experience some bloating or discomfort in your abdomen. You may have an x-ray to check the position and expansion of the stent.

What can you eat after a colonic stent?

‘Plain’ low fibre foods – e.g. white pasta, mashed potatoes, white soft bread, low fibre breakfast cereals (see table below), smooth yoghurt, ice cream (without added fruit or nuts), jellies. Try to ensure a regular meal pattern and include a variety of foods to ensure a balanced diet.

Is bowel stent permanent?

If your bowel has become blocked, your bowel movements can’t pass through. This can cause pain or cramp, bloating and sickness. A stent can relieve these symptoms and get your bowel working again. Stents can be temporary or permanent.

What is the purpose of colorectal stenting?

Colorectal stenting offers nonoperative, immediate, and effective colon decompression and allows bowel preparation for an elective oncologic resectio … Self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) placement is a minimally invasive option for achieving acute colonic decompression in obstructed colorectal cancer.

Are coloncolonic stents for malignant bowel obstruction still relevant?

Colonic stents for malignant bowel obstruction: current status and future prospects Introduction: Although more than two decades are already passed from the first description of this technique, the debate remains open on the role of self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) placement in the management of malignant bowel obstruction (MBO).

What are the contraindications for colonic stenting?

The only absolute contraindication for colonic stenting is colonic perforation. Outcomes following stent placement are not affected by patient’s age and American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA)/physiological status[9-14] as they are the main two risk factors predicting mortality and morbidity with any procedure.

Does endoscopic colorectal stent placement improve oncologic long-term survival?

Despite concerns of tumor seeding following endoscopic colorectal stent placement, no difference exists in oncologic long-term survival between patients who undergo stent placement followed by elective resection and those undergoing emergency bowel resection. Colorectal stents have also been used in selected patients with benign colonic strictures.