RESUMO
The use of intestinal stent is considered the palliative treatment of choice in patients with severe compromised cardiopulmonary reserve or functional class IV who have blockage in the intestinal lumen by tumor growth. The endoscopist should recognize the indications for prosthesis, which depend on the patient and the lesion. This article reviews the characteristics, indications and results of the prosthesis achieved to date. The use of stents has been reported to achieve a technical success of 94%, although clinical success is variable. In general, less serious complications appear in 27% of the patients and, of these, 17% are due to tumor growth within the prosthesis or in its ends, 5% to migration, pain in 2%, and obstruction of the biliary route in 1%. Serious complications occur in 1% of the patients, among which hemorrhage is included. Mortality is infrequent. We conclude that the use of an enteral prosthesis is effective and safe. It is an accessible method that requires an experienced surgeon. For management of obstruction, it has shown to have good results as a cost-effective palliative option.