Role of Metal Stents in the Digestive System
Role of Metal Stents in the Digestive System
- A metal tube (stent) can be used to keep a narrowed part of the digestive system open, usually placed via an endoscope.
- Metal stents are permanent and long-term.
- hey are typically used to help patients with gastrointestinal cancers who have difficulty swallowing, digesting, or defecating.
Esophageal Stents:
- The esophagus functions to transport food from the mouth to the stomach.
- In the case of esophageal cancer, narrowing of the esophagus occurs, affecting the swallowing process.
- Placing a stent in the esophagus may help a patient with esophageal narrowing to swallow.
Biliary Stents:
- The biliary duct is the channel that connects the bile ducts from the liver and pancreas to the small intestine, facilitating the digestion process.
- In cases of pancreatic tumors or biliary duct obstruction, blockage occurs in the biliary duct, resulting in the cessation of the flow of yellow bile from the liver and pancreas to the small intestine.
- Placing a metal stent in the biliary duct facilitates the restoration of the flow of yellow bile from the liver and pancreas to the small intestine.
Duodenal Stents:
- The duodenum is the upper part of the small intestine.
- Duodenal stents help patients with duodenal tumors to facilitate the flow of duodenal contents into the intestines.
Duodenal Stents:
- The colon is the last part of the large intestine and is responsible for water absorption and feces elimination.
- Patients with colon cancer experience difficulty in normal bowel movements.
- The stents placed in the colon for a patient with colon cancer help control the obstruction caused by the cancerous tumor and manage some symptoms of obstruction, such as difficulty with bowel movements.
