Oesophageal stent

Cancer in the food pipe (oesophagus) can partly or completely block it. This makes it difficult to swallow. A stent is a small metal or plastic tube put into the oesophagus. It opens the food pipe and allows you to swallow food and drink more easily.

You have the stent fitted in hospital in the endoscopy department or x-ray department. It usually takes about 30 minutes. You may need to stay in hospital overnight or for a few days.

Before your treatment

Your doctor or specialist nurse explains what happens and how they fit the stent. They ask you to sign a consent form saying that you agree to have the procedure. You can ask them any questions that you have. Tell them about any medicines you are taking.

You shouldn’t eat or drink for at least 6 hours beforehand.

A nurse puts a small tube called a cannula into a vein in the back of your hand. They go with you to the endoscopy or x-ray department.

The doctor or nurse injects a medicine to make you sleepy into the cannula in your hand. Or you might have a general anaesthetic, so that you'll be asleep for the procedure. 

Having a stent

• long, flexible tube called an endoscope put down your throat
• thin wire to fit the tube during an x-ray

Stent using endoscopy

While you are very sleepy or asleep your doctor puts a long flexible tube called an endoscope into your food pipe. It has a light and a small camera on the end so the doctor can see the blockage. They then put the small mesh tube (stent) into the narrowed area.

Stent using x-ray

Your doctor passes a fine wire down into your oesophagus until it reaches the blockage. You then have an x-ray so the doctor can see the blocked area on a screen. They pass the stent down the wire until it is in the right place.

After treatment

You stay in the endoscopy department or x-ray department until the sedation or anaesthetic wears off. You wear an oxygen mask for a short time. A nurse then takes you back to your ward. You might need to stay in hospital overnight or for a few days.

The stent expands over a couple of days. This opens up the oesophagus so that food and drink can pass through again.

Eating and drinking with a stent

You can’t eat or drink for the first 2 to 4 hours after having the stent. Your nurse tells you when you can start drinking. You may only have liquids at first. Gradually you may be able to start eating more solid foods.

Your dietitian tells you which foods you can eat. Do ask any questions that you have.

Tips

• Eat 'little and often', for example 3 small meals with snacks between meals.
• Sit upright while you eat and for an hour after your meal.
• Chew food well and remove any lumps or gristle.
• If you have dentures, wear them to make chewing easier.
• Sip fluids before, during and after eating to help food pass down through the stent.
• Avoid tough lumps of meat, wholegrain or crusty bread and stringy fruits and vegetables.

Side effects

Pain

You might feel some soreness as the stent expands. Taking painkillers for a few days helps. After a few days, the pain usually goes away but you might still have some soreness at times. 

Tell your nurse or doctor if you still have pain.

Heartburn or acid reflux

You might have some heartburn or acid reflux. Your nurse or doctor can give you anti acid medicine to help.

Sleeping upright in bed helps to prevent heartburn. You can use pillows or cushions to support yourself.

Bleeding

You might have some slight bleeding in the oesophagus. It might give you a metallic taste in your mouth. This usually gets better over a few days.

Tell your nurse of doctor if you cough up blood.

A hole in the food pipe

Damage to the oesophagus can tear it or make a hole (perforation). This is very rare. 

Tell your doctor or nurse straight away if you:

• have difficulty breathing
• get severe chest pain
• vomit blood
• can’t keep food or drinks down

If food blocks the stent

Your swallowing might change or eating and drinking gets difficult or uncomfortable. Or you may find that you suddenly can’t swallow. This could mean than the stent has become blocked.

If this happens:

• try not to panic
• take sips of fizzy or warm drinks to try and clear the blockage
• walk around as this sometimes helps

If the stent moves

Rarely the stent might move and food may not be able to pass through. If this happens you won’t be able to swallow and food or drink will come back up. Your doctor will remove or replace the stent.

At home with a stent

You have support from community nurses or your local symptom control team. 

The hospital or your GP give you any medicines that you need.