Endoscopic stent placement: indications and success rates

Endoscopic placement of endoluminal self-expanding stents has become a useful therapy for a myriad of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. Following the early successes of palliative stent placement for inoperable malignant disease, application of this modality has expanded to benign conditions and anastomotic complications such as leak and stricture. This review highlights the indications and success rates for endoscopic stent placement from the esophagus to the rectum.