Structures that can have intraluminal stents placed:
(1) large bowel
(2) small bowel (if it can be reached)
(3) ureters
(4) common bile duct
(5) an artery or vein (in theory)
Indications for placement of a stent - accessible luminal obstruction and:
(1) poor operative candidate
(2) unresectable tumor
(3) terminal state or declining trajectory (futile)
(4) urgent relief of symptoms, pending definitive therapy
(5) prophylaxis following a major resection in order to avoid some postoperative complications
Placement of a stent may require dilatation of the structure if the obstruction is severe.
If placement of a stent fails (nontraversable stricture, sharp angulation, etc). then palliative surgery may be needed to relieve the obstruction.
