Colonic anastomotic stenoses and Memotherm stent fracture: a report of three cases.

Deployment of a Memotherm colonic stent (Bard, Angiomed, Karlsruhe, Germany) across anastomotic strictures, following anterior resection, is described in three patients. Two patients presented with symptoms of colonic obstruction. Two of the patients had previously undergone unsuccessful balloon dilatation of the stricture. In the third, in addition to the anastomotic stricture, there was local tumor recurrence. Initially, stenting provided effective relief of symptoms. However, in all three patients, fracture of the stents occurred at intervals of 3-7 months after insertion. This use and complication of colonic stenting has not been reported previously.