Endoscopic stenting places a small expandable tube to relieve a narrowed or blocked food pipe, bile duct, stomach outlet or bowel — restoring passage, relieving jaundice or allowing eating, often without open surgery.
| What | An expandable tube placed to relieve a blockage |
| Why | Blocked food pipe, bile duct, stomach outlet or bowel |
| Benefit | Rapid relief of jaundice or swallowing/eating problems |
| Comfort | Done endoscopically under sedation |
What is stenting?
A stent is a small, flexible, self-expanding tube placed endoscopically across a narrowing to hold it open. Stenting restores the normal passage of food, bile or bowel contents and can give rapid relief without the need for open surgery.
What it treats
Stents relieve a food pipe narrowed by a tumour (restoring swallowing), a bile duct blocked by stones or cancer (relieving jaundice), a stomach outlet obstruction (allowing eating) and a blocked colon. They are used both for cure-directed care and for comfort.
What to expect
The stent is positioned during an endoscopic procedure (such as gastroscopy or ERCP) under sedation, with X-ray guidance where needed. Many patients feel relief quickly and can often go home the same day or the next.
How we treat Stenting (Endoscopic)
View all services & treatments →Documented cases from our practice
A "difficult gallbladder" with dense scarring — removed safely by key-hole surgery without conversi…
Read case → Real case Polyp to Prevention: How a Colonoscopy Stopped a CancerA pre-cancerous polyp found and removed during screening — a colon cancer prevented before it could…
Read case → Real case Yellow Eyes to Relief: Clearing a Blocked Bile Duct by EndoscopyDeep jaundice from a bile-duct stone relieved by ERCP — no open surgery needed.
Read case →Visiting consultations near you
Meet Dr. Avinash Tank across Gujarat & Rajasthan — simple cases managed locally, advanced surgery at Dwarika Hospital, Ahmedabad.
Super-specialist GI, bariatric & cancer surgeon. SGPGIMS (India's premier GI centre) + advanced training in Japan & South Korea. Read full profile →
Last reviewed: June 2026Frequently asked questions
A stent holds open a narrowed passage — such as the food pipe or bile duct — restoring flow and relieving symptoms like jaundice or difficulty swallowing.
Stenting can relieve a blockage without open surgery, either as definitive treatment or as a bridge to surgery and other therapy.
Jaundice and itching usually begin to improve within days of relieving the blockage with a bile-duct stent.
Yes. Depending on the type and purpose, stents can be exchanged or removed endoscopically as part of ongoing care.