Independent Review ArticleUse of covered self-expandable stents for benign colorectal disorders in children

PurposeThere is a lack of experience with covered self-expandable stents for benign colorectal disorders in children.MethodsFive children (4 M, 1F) with a median age of 5 years (range, 6 months-9 years) who underwent treatment with covered self-expandable plastic (SEPSs) or self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) for a benign colorectal condition between April 2005 and November 2013 were recruited to this retrospective study. Etiologies included: anastomotic stricture with (n = 1) or without (n = 3) simultaneous enterocutaneous fistula, as well as an anastomotic leak associated with enterocutaneous fistula (n = 1). All children suffered from either Hirschsprung's disease (n = 3) or total colonic aganglionosis (Zuelzer-Wilson syndrome) (n = 2).ResultsMedian duration of individual stent placement was 23 days (range, 1-87 days). In all cases up to five different stents were placed over time. At follow-up two patients were successfully treated without further intervention. In another patient the anastomotic stricture resolved fully, but a coexisting enterocutaneous fistula persisted. Overall, three patients did not improve completely following stenting and required definite surgery. Stent-related problems were noted in all cases. There was one perforation of the colon at stent insertion. Further complications consisted of stent dislocation (n = 4), obstruction (n = 1), formation of granulation tissue (n = 1), ulceration (n = 1) and discomfort (n = 3).ConclusionsCovered self-expandable stents enrich the armamentarium of interventions for benign colorectal disorders in children including anastomotic strictures and intestinal leaks. A stent can be applied either as an emergency procedure (bridge to surgery) or as an adjuvant treatment further to endoscopy and dilatation. Postinterventional problems are frequent but there is a potential for temporary or definite improvement following stent insertion.