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Remember to crush the tablets after esophageal stent insertion
Chun-Tao Wai1, Dede Selamat Sutedja, Yin-Mei Lee
1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074. waict@nuh.com.sg
Surgical Laparoscopy, Endoscopy & Percutaneous Techniques
|February 17, 2005
Summary
Esophageal stents can become blocked by large tablets, a complication often overlooked. Patients should crush medications to prevent esophageal stent blockage.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Oncology
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Expandable metallic stents are a primary treatment for inoperable esophageal cancer.
- Common complications include tumor ingrowth, migration, and food impaction, affecting up to 10% of patients.
Observation:
- A case of esophageal stent blockage caused by two large tablets is presented.
- The patient and family were not warned about this specific risk by the endoscopist.
Findings:
- Esophageal stent blockage can occur even with soft diets if large tablets are swallowed.
- The blockage was successfully resolved through a repeat endoscopic procedure.
Implications:
- There is a need to educate patients and caregivers about the risk of tablet impaction after esophageal stenting.
- Pre-procedure medication review and clear instructions to crush large tablets are recommended to prevent this complication.