Self-expanding metallic stents in the treatment of benign colorectal anastomotic strictures: a word of caution.

A 66-year-old man underwent an anterior resection for carcinoma at the rectosigmoid junction. Three months later, a tight stricture developed proximal to the anastomosis. This was treated with a self-expanding metallic stent. Over the next few months, the stent fractured and a fistula developed between the site of anastomic stricture and the distal ileum; the stent had to be removed. This, to our knowledge, is the first report of a coloenteric fistula developing after insertion of a metallic stent to treat a benign postoperative anastomotic stricture.