Development of gastroduodenal self-expandable metallic stents: 30 years of trial and error

ABSTRACT

In 1991, the author (H.Y.S.) reported the first case of self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placement in a patient with recurrent cancer after gastrojejunostomy. Since then SEMS placement has developed into a well-established method for the palliative treatment of malignant gastroduodenal obstruction. This year marks the 30th year the author has been implicated in the development of gastrointestinal SEMSs. Thus far, the author has developed successively a total of six generations of gastroduodenal SEMSs through trial and error over the years. In the present article, the author reviews his personal experience in developing gastroduodenal stents.