[Self-expandable metal stents in the GI tract].

Self-expandable metal Stents (SEMS), first introduced in the late 90s for the palliation of malignant obstructive jaundice and unresectable esophageal malignancy, are now being variably placed for high risk surgical patients in the setting of malignant gastric outlet and colon obstruction. This review attempts to place SEMS into perspective with respect to surgery and other palliative modalities when treating a variety of GI malignancies and attempts to define the role, if any, of SEMS placement in patients with refractory benign GI stenoses.