Background: In recent years, self-expanding stents have been used to treat benign perforations and strictures of the oesophagus.
Methods: We conducted a PubMed search of literature from January 1st 1993 to February 7th 2005 on the use of self-expanding stents in benign oesophageal conditions.
Results: Only case reports and minor series are published in the literature; further studies are needed in order to define the future role of stents in benign disease. Present experience indicates that self-expanding metal stents can be used in benign perforations of the oesophagus, provided that the stent is removed once the perforation has healed. Removing such stents may, however, require significant endoscopic experience. When stents are used in benign strictures, a high number of complications should be expected; the literature is more ambiguous as to whether or not this procedure should be recommended. The development of retrievable plastic stents and bio-absorbable stents could alter the use of stents in the future.