[Stent therapy].

Expandable metal stents are a significant advance in the treatment of malignant gastrointestinal tract obstruction. The devices available are not perfect in design and need further technical improvement. However they already offer advantages over conventional plastic stents. They are becoming standard for esophageal stenting. Indications for metal stents in other locations of the gastrointestinal tract have to be evaluated. Endoscopic stenting is now the method of choice in the palliative treatment of jaundice in patients with inoperable biliopancreatic neoplasias. Stent clogging as a result of biliary sludge and biofilm remains an unsolved problem of plastic stents. Expandable metal stents remain patent longer but are reserved for patients with good general health.