Most patients with malignant hilar stenoses are candidates for palliation. For this purpose, biliary drainage plays a major role in improving liver function and managing or avoiding cholangitis. Endoscopic interventions…
Obstructive jaundice can result from benign or malignant etiologies. The common benign conditions include primary sclerosing cholangitis, chronic pancreatitis, and gallstones. Malignant biliary obstruction can be caused by direct tumor…
Benign biliary diseases include benign biliary strictures (BBS), choledocholithiasis, and leaks. BBS encompass postoperative injury, anastomotic stricture, chronic pancreatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and gallstone-related stricture. Therapeutic options for benign biliary…
Plastic biliary endoprostheses have not changed much since their introduction more than 3 decades ago. Although their use has been challenged by the introduction of metal stents, plastic stents still…
Biliary plastic stenting plays a key role in the endoscopic management of benign biliary diseases. Complications following surgery of the biliary tract and liver transplantation are amenable to endoscopic treatment…
Malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is a commonly encountered entity, defined as the inability of the stomach to empty because of mechanical obstruction at the level of either the stomach…
Esophageal cancer is diagnosed in about 400,000 patients each year worldwide, and its incidence is increasing faster than that of any other malignancy. This makes it the ninth most common…
Partially covered self-expandable esophageal stents have been associated with unacceptable complications when used for benign esophageal disorders. With the introduction of removable or potentially removable fully covered stents and biodegradable…
Expandable stents are widely used in gastroenterology. The basic principle of all of these devices is that they can be constrained onto a delivery system of small diameter and then…
Todd H. Baron, MD, Guest Editor When searching PubMed, the term “stent” first appeared in the title of a publication in 1952. At the time of this writing, a search…
