Luminal apposing stents are used to treat digestive tract stenosis with better results than endoscopic dilation and with a better morbidity and mortality profile than surgery. Despite an increase in their use, there is no evidence regarding their long-term safety. Below is a series of patients who have had LAMS for more than twelve months at our center.

Observational, descriptive, and retrospective study of patients with LAMS for more than one year due to benign digestive pathology.

The sample consisted of five patients with a mean age of 68.8 years (SD: 25.23) and 60% males. The indication in all cases was benign stenosis: three duodenal stenoses (two secondary to chronic pancreatitis and the third post-ulcerative) in which gastroenteroanastomosis was performed, one peptic pyloric stenosis in which a transpyloric LAMS was placed, and one gastrointestinal anastomotic stenosis in which a prosthesis was used in the anastomosis.

The most commonly used Hot-Axios prosthesis (60%) had a diameter of 10x10 mm; in both cases indicated for duodenal stenosis secondary to chronic pancreatitis, it presented as a complication of obstruction at 17 and 23 months, requiring replacement with a 20x10 stent, and in the third case, used for pyloric stenosis, it was removed at 17 months due to restenosis and requiring reinsertion. In post-ulcer duodenal stenosis, a 15x10 diameter was used and after 13 months of follow-up, no complications have been reported. Finally, in gastrointestinal anastomotic stenosis, a 20x10 Hot-Axios was used without incident after 26 months of follow-up.

The placement of LAMS in benign stenoses has revolutionized the management of many digestive pathologies with good results and an acceptable complication rate, allowing other more aggressive therapies such as surgery to be avoided. In our experience with long-term prostheses, there were no serious complications, with prosthesis obstruction in those with a smaller diameter being the most frequent adverse effect (40%).