Gastroseal: A Novel Stent Design for the Management of Post-Bariatric Surgery Leaks

Bariatric surgery leaks remain a dreaded complication with ominous consequences. Fully covered stents have shown efficacy in the treatment of leaks; however, stent migration remains a major drawback. Ultra-large stents have shown reduced rates of migration and coapt better against the walls, but deep ulcers occur in almost all patients, as well as frequent severe intolerance, bleeding, and perforation. We have developed a large expandable stent with physical characteristics and a particularly flexible mesh design that make it much less traumatic than conventional large stents while maintaining the advantage of being less prone to migration. In this patient with a post-sleeve gastrectomy leak, we provide a proof of concept that the Gastroseal stent is effective and nontraumatic despite its very large size.