Who places esophageal stents?

Esophageal stents are placed by doctors who specialize in the esophagus and treatments for its disorders.  

Common specialists who place esophageal stents include:

- Gastroenterologists - Doctors who focus on the digestive system.  Gastroenterologists often perform upper endoscopies and esophageal dilation to diagnose esophageal conditions like cancer or strictures.  They frequently place stents using endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance. 

- Interventional radiologists - Doctors with specialized training in minimally invasive treatments using imaging like ultrasound, CT, MRI, and fluoroscopy to guide procedures.  Interventional radiologists commonly place esophageal stents percutaneously through the skin under imaging. 

- Thoracic surgeons - Surgeons who operate on organs in the chest like the esophagus.  They may surgically place stents in the esophagus intraoperatively for problems like fistulas or perforations identified during surgery.  

- Oncologists - Cancer specialists who may work with gastroenterologists or interventional radiologists to stent esophageal cancers for palliative relief of obstructions. 

- Otolaryngologists - Ear, nose, and throat doctors who can place stents for upper esophageal conditions near the throat.  

The decision on which specialty places the esophageal stent depends on the individual case, location of the problem area, reason for stenting, and local expertise.  Often the process involves collaboration between specialties to determine the best stenting approach.