Case Report
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2005. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 28, 2005; 11(36): 5739-5741
Published online Sep 28, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i36.5739
Post-metallic stent placement bleeding caused by stent-induced ulcers
Chun-Tao Wai, Christopher Khor, Siew-Eng Lim, Khek-Yu Ho
Chun-Tao Wai, Christopher Khor, Khek-Yu Ho, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074, Singapore
Siew-Eng Lim, Department of Hematology and Oncology, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074, Singapore
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Professor Khek-Yu Ho, Senior Consultant, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074, Singapore. mdchoky@nus.edu.sg
Telephone: +65-67724353 Fax: +65-67794112
Received: October 22, 2004
Revised: November 15, 2004
Accepted: November 19, 2004
Published online: September 28, 2005
Abstract

Placement of self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) is an effective mode of palliative treatment for patients with malignant gastrointestinal obstruction. Gastrointestinal mucosal bleeding complicates about 5% of placement of SEMS but is not well described. We report three cases of gastrointestinal bleeding post-SEMS placement and suggest that bleeding is caused by direct mucosal infringement by the sharp edges of the ends of the stents.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Gastric cancer; Stricture