You have had an oesophageal stent inserted or you are about to have one? And you are searching for information about it, this article will reassure you on how to look after it.
In this article we will examine why an oesophageal stent is inserted and how you can look after it after.
I will rely on my knowledge as an interventional radiographer who works with surgeons who perform these procedures and of course rely on research studies on the subject.
Happy reading!😀 and feel free to ask questions in the comments or share your own experience.🙏
Last updated: August, 2026. Written by Juliet Semakula, a diagnostic radiographer.
▶️What is an oesophageal stent?
An oesophageal stent is a small, flexible, hollow tube placed inside the oesophagus (food pipe) to keep a narrowed or blocked area open.
Image Thoracickey.com
It is primarily used to relieve dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) so that liquids and soft foods can pass easily from the mouth into the stomach.
▶️Why would your doctor recommend an oesophageal stent?
I have seen an oesophageal stent recommended for a patient who has advanced oesophageal cancer or nearby lung tumours that cannot be surgically removed.
In this case the growing mass can entirely block food and liquid, and the food pipe becomes dangerously narrowed or blocked.
Source: Reim 2016
A doctor will recommend an oesophageal stent primarily to restore the ability to swallow safely and comfortably.
So, a stent acts as a scaffolding to physically push the walls open.
Medical professionals recommend this procedure for three major reasons:
🟣 Palliative Relief from Advanced Cancer
This is the most common reason for a stent recommendation. If you have advanced oesophageal cancer or nearby lung tumours that cannot be surgically removed
♦️Relieve dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) so that liquids and soft foods can pass easily from the mouth into the stomach.
♦️ Avoid a feeding tube to help you maintain independence and eat naturally through the mouth.
♦️Prevent aspiration: Stop food from getting stuck and accidentally spilling into the lungs, which can cause severe aspiration pneumonia.
🟣Treatment of Severe Benign (Non-Cancerous) Narrowing
A doctor will usually try widening it first with an expanding balloon (dilatation).
However, if the area keeps collapsing or scarring back down, a temporary or biodegradable stent is recommended to hold it open long-term.
♦️Deep scarring from chronic, severe acid reflux (GERD).
♦️Radiation therapy damage from previous chest cancer treatments.
♦️Accidental chemical burns from swallowing corrosive substances.
🟣Emergency Sealing of Tears or Leaks
A doctor will recommend a covered plastic or metal stent to seal off holes in the wall of the food pipe.
♦️Latrogenic perforations: Accidental tears that occur during other medical or endoscopic procedures.
️ ♦️Spontaneous tearing of the food pipe caused by forceful vomiting.
♦️Surgical leaks: Areas where the tissue fails to heal properly after an operation to remove part of the stomach or oesophagus.
Source Van 2011
These are some of the common medical reasons your doctor will recommend an oesophageal stent.
▶️How successful is an oesophageal stent?
Oesophageal stents are highly successful at achieving immediate medical goals, but their long-term success depends heavily on the underlying condition being treated.
Normally success outcomes are determined by two main metrics
♦️Technical success is very important, getting the stent safely into the correct position.
♦️Clinical success when successfully relieving symptoms or sealing a leak is achieved.
▶️Research done by some researchers noted that:
♦️Technical Success is achieved between 95% to 98%, doctors almost always deploy the stent precisely where it needs to go across the blockage.
♦️Immediate Dysphagia Relief is normally seen between 85% to 90%. Within 24 to 48 hours of expansion, the vast majority of patients can swallow liquids and soft foods comfortably again.
♦️Fistula / Leak Sealing is achieved between 75% to 80%, covered stents successfully close off abnormal holes, stopping dangerous leaks into the chest cavity.
♦️For advanced cancer, a stent is a highly effective quality-of-life intervention. It keeps the food pipe patent (open) for the remainder of a patient’s life, with a fully covered metal stent remaining open for a median of 8 months without blocking.
Source: Ahmed,2020
▶️What are the risks of having a stent put in your oesophagus?
While an oesophageal stent is a highly effective way to restore swallowing, it is an invasive procedure that carries certain risks.
X-ray image showing a self-expanding metal stent oesophageal stent (image source Ahmed 2019)
These risks are generally split into two categories:
1️⃣Procedural risks are things that can happen during the operation.
⚫Chest pain or discomfort (Up to 40%): This is the most common side effect. As the stent slowly expands over 24 to 48 hours, it stretches the nerve endings in the food pipe. It usually feels like a dull ache or pressure in the centre of the chest and can be managed with standard pain medication.
⚫Perforation (Hole in the Oesophagus) (1% to 2%): A rare but serious risk. The camera or the expanding stent can accidentally tear the wall of the food pipe. If this happens, it requires urgent surgical repair or immediate placement of a second, fully covered stent to seal the tear.
⚫Bleeding (1% to 5%): The tumour or scarred tissue may bleed as the stent pushes against it. Minor bleeding is common and stops on its own, but severe haemorrhage is rare.
⚫Sedation Complications (<1%): As with any procedure involving conscious sedation or general anaesthesia, there is a very small risk of breathing difficulties, an allergic reaction, or a drop in blood pressure
2️⃣ Delayed risks are complications that can develop weeks or months later after the stent insertion.
⚫Stent Migration or Slipping (5% to 15%): The stent can lose its grip and slip downward into the stomach or upward into the chest. If it slips, the swallowing difficulty will return, and a doctor will need to adjust, remove, or replace it via a second endoscopy.
⚫Re-Blockage or Ingrowth (10% to 15%): Over time, the cancer tumour can grow over the top or bottom edges of the stent. If an “uncovered” or “partially covered” stent was used, the tumour can grow right through the holes in the metal mesh.
Alternatively, thick, fibrous scar tissue or food debris can build up and block the tube.
⚫Severe Acid Reflux (GERD) (Up to 20%): If the blockage is located at the very bottom of the food pipe, the stent must be placed across the lower oesophageal sphincter (the muscular valve that keeps stomach acid down).
⚫Fistula Formation (Rare): Over many months, the constant pressure of the rigid metal stent against the soft tissue of the food pipe can cause a pressure sore. In rare cases, this can erode a hole into neighbouring structures, such as the windpipe (trachea) or major blood vessels
Caution! Serious side effects are rare. however if any of the following occur within 48 hours after your oesophageal stent insertion, please contact the endoscopy unit where you had your operation
▶️How painful is an oesophageal stent?
An oesophageal stent insertion is generally not painful during the procedure.
However, patients we see normally report feeling mild-to-moderate chest discomfort as it expands afterward.
You will not feel pain during the placement itself because it is performed under local anaesthetic throat spray and conscious sedation, or occasionally general anaesthesia
⚫I have seen patients in the first 24 to 48 hours experience a central, burning chest pain or soreness. This occurs as the metal or plastic mesh “beds in” and expands to hold your food pipe open.
⚫It’s also common to have a sore throat or a slight gagging sensation for 24 to 48 hours caused by the endoscopy tube.
After the procedure, you are normally given instructions by your medical term to take regular, mild painkillers during the first few days and to contact your medical team if the pain is severe.
▶️How should I look after my oesophageal stent?
The most critical rule is to never stop or miss your doctors’ instructions. You will be given instructions from your doctor on how to look after your stent.
Looking after an oesophageal stent focuses on preventing blockages and managing acid reflux.
Image from https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/
Looking after your oesophageal stent requires modifying your eating habits, choosing soft foods, and managing acid reflux to ensure the tube stays clear and functions properly
▶️ Can you eat normally with an oesophageal stent and what should you eat after it has been inserted?
You CANNOT eat exactly as you did before. Because the stent is slightly narrower and less flexible than a normal food pipe, you must follow a modified diet and eating routine to prevent it from getting blocked
While the stent is placed specifically to restore your ability to swallow, it is a rigid metal or plastic mesh tube that cannot stretch like a healthy, natural oesophagus.
Image showing a self-expanding metallic stent (source Kim 2017)
Because of this, certain textures can easily become lodged inside the tube.
Looking after an oesophageal stent requires careful eating habits to prevent blockages and manage acid reflux.
Normally your discharging nurse will let you know when you can start to eat and drink. This is done in stages after the insertion.
Stage1️⃣: For the first 24 hours you should remain on a liquid diet. Drinks should not be too hot or too cold.
Liquid diet such as water, tea, coffee, fruit juices, milk, soft drinks or sports drinks. Start with small sips and increase the volume as you feel confident.
Stage 2️⃣: For the next 24 hours you should eat a soft diet. If you are able to tolerate this, you can go on to your normal diet after 24 hours.
A soft diet may include smooth or pureed foods, including soup (without lumps), apple sauce, yogurt, ice cream or gelatine.
You can then increase the texture of your food to a soft consistency as you feel your swallowing getting easier.
You may wish to try scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, steamed fish, mashed potatoes, mashed banana and gelatine.
Stage3️⃣: You can return to your normal diet if you have been able to tolerate a soft diet for the past 24 hours.
Caution! you should avoid spicy foods until you are able to eat your normal diet
Try to include a wide variety of foods and fluids in your diet so that you achieve as close to a normal diet as possible, as you need to meet your nutritional needs.
If you feel that you cannot achieve this on a soft consistency diet, ask to speak to a registered dietitian.
▶️What should I do if my stent becomes blocked? Preventive measures
Before you think about what you can do if a stent blocks you must think about:
what to do to prevent the blockage.
🟢Always sit fully upright when eating and for at least 30-60 minutes afterward.
🟢Take your time, relax and eat your meals slowly.
🟢You should aim to eat more often, such as having 5 or 6 small meals rather than 3 large meals each day.
🟢Cut your food into smaller pieces than you would normally eat, take small mouthfuls and chew each mouthful thoroughly.
🟢Do not be afraid to spit out lumps that cannot be chewed.
🟢Drink frequently during and after each meal to help keep your stent clear.
Caution! warm or fizzy drinks are recommended, but for some people, drinking carbonated drinks may worsen symptoms of heartburn or acid reflux.
▶️What can you do if the stent is blocked?
🟢If your oesophageal stent becomes blocked, you must stop eating immediately.
🟢Do not panic. The blockage only affects the tube into your stomach; it will not affect your ability to breathe.
🟢Stop eating, stand up and take a few sips of a drink.
🟢If that does not resolve the problem, try a warm or fizzy drink such as carbonated water, lemonade, or cola.
🟢Walk around the room, as movement combined with gravity can help nudge the food downward.
Most minor blockages clear within a short time using the steps above. If the stent blockage has not cleared after 1 to 2 hours, contact your GP or specialist nurse for advice.
▶️How to sleep after an oesophageal stent?
To sleep safely and comfortably after an oesophageal stent insertion, you must sleep in a semi-upright position
🟠Prop yourself up with three or four pillows, or use a wedge cushion, to keep your head and chest elevated above your stomach.
🟠If possible, mechanically raise the head of your bed or place solid blocks under the front legs of the bed frame to raise it by 3 to 4 inches.
🟠Avoid lying flat, try remaining in a semi-seated utilizes gravity to keep stomach fluids where they belong, preventing overnight reflux
▶️How long will an oesophageal stent last?
The exact timeframe the stent remains effective depends heavily on whether it is being used to treat a cancerous (malignant) obstruction or a non-cancerous (benign) condition.
An oesophageal stent is typically designed to stay in place permanently, with an average functional lifespan of 1 to 6 months before potentially requiring medical maintenance or replacement
If a stent is used to treat non-cancerous narrowing’s (strictures), tears, or leaks, it is treated as a temporary measure, so a temporary placement is done.
These stents are typically left in place for 2 to 12 weeks to allow the underlying tissue to heal before being endoscopically removed
| An oesophageal stent is a permanent fixture designed to last for the remainder of a person’s life, meaning it does not have a set expiry date and does not typically need to be removed or replaced. However, how long it remains clear, and functions perfectly depends on the underlying reason it was put in |
We have come to the end of this article! I wish you a very quick recovery!🙋
Any comments or questions are welcome, below are some of the resources I have relied on.
📚Source:
Ahmed O, Bolger JC, O’Neill B, Robb WB. Use of esophageal stents to relieve dysphagia during neoadjuvant therapy prior to esophageal resection: a systematic review. Dis Esophagus. 2020 Jan 16;33(1):doz090. doi: 10.1093/dote/doz090. PMID: 31828290.
Reim D, Friess H. Feeding Challenges in Patients with Esophageal and Gastroesophageal Cancers. Gastrointest Tumors. 2016 May;2(4):166-77. doi: 10.1159/000442907. Epub 2016 Jan 8. PMID: 27403411; PMCID: PMC4924457.
van Boeckel PG, Sijbring A, Vleggaar FP, Siersema PD. Systematic review: temporary stent placement for benign rupture or anastomotic leak of the oesophagus. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2011 Jun;33(12):1292-301. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2011.04663.x. Epub 2011 Apr 24. PMID: 21517921.
Ahmed O, Ajani JA, Lee JH. Endoscopic management of esophageal cancer. World J Gastrointest Oncol. 2019 Oct 15;11(10):830-841. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v11.i10.830. PMID: 31662822; PMCID: PMC6815921.
Kim KY, Tsauo J, Song HY, Kim PH, Park JH. Self-Expandable Metallic Stent Placement for the Palliation of Esophageal Cancer. J Korean Med Sci. 2017 Jul;32(7):1062-1071. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2017.32.7.1062. PMID: 28581260; PMCID: PMC5461307.