What is colonic stenting?
Colonic stents are placed because of a blockage to the bowel often as part of treatment for cancer in that area. In Leeds colonic stents are placed by Dr Ruth England, Dr Simon Everett, Dr Matthew Huggett and Dr Bharat Paranandi.
Colonic stents are made of an expandable wire mesh material called nitinol that is constrained within a narrow plastic sheath. To perform the procedure, the endoscopist advances an endoscope to the narrowing in the bowel and passes a soft wire (guidewire) through the narrowing under X-ray guidance. Once the position of the guidewire is confirmed, the narrow stent delivery system is passed through the endoscope over the guidewire and across the stricture under x-ray guidance. The constraining sheath is removed and the stent will expand to allow bowel contents to pass.
Stents are placed whilst the patient is under sedation with the use of a standard endoscope but assisted by x-ray guidance. The procedure is the same as for a standard colonoscopy initially but takes longer, approximately 30 to 45 minutes. For more information please read the information leaflet below.