Concierge upper GI endoscopy · UK
Endoscopic oesophageal stent insertion, by an interventional upper GI endoscopist.
A self-expanding metal stent placed at gastroscopy to relieve dysphagia from oesophageal cancer, seal a malignant fistula, or bridge a benign leak — in a fluoroscopy-equipped room, by a named consultant.
Why patients choose us
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An upper GI interventional endoscopist, in theatre
Not a general endoscopy list. A named interventional upper GI endoscopist, a screening room with fluoroscopy, and the right stent from a stocked range.
- 02
The right stent for the right problem
Fully covered, partially covered, biodegradable — each has a place. We match the stent to the stricture, not to what happens to be in the drawer.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation — stent, brachytherapy, radiotherapy or a combination — is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private oesophageal stent insertion costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner units. On the NHS the procedure is fully funded — many patients still choose private for speed and consultant continuity.
In short
A private oesophageal stent in our network: £5,500–£8,000, swallowing better within 48 hours.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oesophageal stent (fully covered SEMS) | £5,500–£8,000 | 30–45 min | Same day or 1 night |
| Oesophageal stent (partially covered SEMS) | £5,500–£8,500 | 30–45 min | Same day or 1 night |
| Covered stent for T-E fistula | £6,500–£9,000 | 45 min | 1 night typical |
| Biodegradable stent (benign stricture) | £6,000–£8,500 | 30–45 min | Same day |
| Stent replacement or repositioning | £3,500–£6,000 | 30 min | Same day |
| Consultation with upper GI endoscopist | £250–£450 | 30 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by unit, by which endoscopist does the case, by the stent chosen, and by whether an overnight stay is needed. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
The right endoscopist, the right stent, the right question first.
An oesophageal stent is the fastest way to swallow again — but it is not always the right first move. Brachytherapy, radiotherapy or a PEG can fit better. We ask the harder question before the softer procedure.
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Not sure a stent is right?
For medium-prognosis malignant dysphagia, brachytherapy palliates for longer. We say so before you agree to a stent.
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Worried about pain and reflux?
Chest pain and reflux are the honest downsides. We explain what to expect and put you on the right PPI from day one.
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Want it done properly?
A named upper GI interventional endoscopist, a fluoroscopy-equipped room and a stocked range of stents — not a generalist list.
The journey
From enquiry to eating again — what happens, in order.
One team from first message to review — including the diet plan and PPI cover.
Phase 1 · Before your procedure
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
A few hours at the unit
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Symptoms, weight loss, imaging or biopsies you already have, and whether the problem is malignant, benign or a leak.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: the right endoscopist, the right stent type, whether brachytherapy or radiotherapy fits better, and an indicative price.
- 03
Before
We arrange the procedure
Usually within a few days for palliative dysphagia. Any blood-thinning medication is reviewed with the team and you are told exactly how to prepare.
- 04
On the day
Arrival at the unit
Arrival, consent and a chat with the endoscopist and sedation nurse. Local throat spray plus light sedation is standard; GA is available.
- 05
On the day
The procedure itself
30 to 45 minutes in a fluoroscopy-equipped endoscopy room. OGD to characterise the stricture, guidewire under X-ray, stent deployed and left to expand.
- 06
On the day
Home the same day or one night
Most patients go home once sedation has worn off and clear fluids are tolerated. A short overnight stay is arranged if pain or aspiration risk is a concern.
- 07
After
Diet, PPI and review
Sips of clear fluid for 24 hours, gradual soft diet, lifelong PPI, sleeping propped up. Dysphagia typically improves within 48 hours.
Typical end-to-end: a few days from enquiry to procedure. Dysphagia improvement: within 48 hours.
When it helps
When an oesophageal stent is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means an emergency rather than an appointment.
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Malignant dysphagia
Advanced oesophageal, gastric cardia or extrinsic tumour causing progressive difficulty swallowing — usually palliative, sometimes bridging to chemo or surgery.
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Tracheo-oesophageal fistula
A malignant fistula from oesophageal cancer eroding into the airway — a covered stent seals the leak and stops aspiration.
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Oesophageal perforation
Boerhaave, iatrogenic post-endoscopy or an anastomotic leak after oesophagectomy — a covered stent as a temporary seal alongside drainage.
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Refractory benign stricture
Post-caustic, peptic, radiation or post-achalasia treatment strictures that keep recurring despite a dilation programme.
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Post-bariatric leak
A staple-line leak after sleeve gastrectomy — a partially covered stent bridges the defect while it heals.
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Extrinsic compression
Lung cancer or mediastinal nodes pressing on the oesophagus from outside — a stent restores the lumen when the disease itself cannot be removed.
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Bridging before neoadjuvant therapy
Occasionally used to restore nutrition before chemotherapy in operable oesophageal cancer — a decision made carefully with the MDT.
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Red flag: complete obstruction
Cannot swallow saliva, drooling, or aspiration — this is an urgent problem, not a routine booking. Same-day A&E or on-call endoscopy.
Stent options
One stent does not fit every stricture.
What each stent on the shelf actually is — and which fits which problem.
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Fully covered SEMS
A self-expanding metal stent with a full plastic membrane. Removable, less tumour ingrowth, higher migration — chosen for benign, short-term and fistula cases.
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Partially covered SEMS
Metal mesh with a covered mid-section and bare ends that embed into tissue. Better anchorage — the workhorse for malignant strictures.
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Uncovered SEMS
Bare metal mesh. Largely superseded now — tumour grows through the mesh, which limits durability.
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Biodegradable stent
Ella-CS or ETNA — a woven polymer stent that dissolves over three to four months. Used for benign strictures where a permanent stent is not wanted.
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Silicone plastic (Polyflex)
A removable plastic stent — largely superseded by covered metal stents, but occasionally still used for very short benign strictures.
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Stent-in-stent for overgrowth
When tumour grows over the ends of an existing stent, a second overlapping stent is deployed to restore the lumen.
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Repositioning or replacement
Migrated or blocked stents can usually be repositioned, removed or replaced endoscopically — a common follow-up procedure.
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Consultation only
An honest discussion of whether a stent is the right step at all — brachytherapy, radiotherapy or PEG feeding may fit better for your case.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of upper GI interventional endoscopists, we picked them.
Consultant upper GI interventional endoscopists across London and the major UK cities. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every endoscopist in our network.
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Upper GI interventional endoscopists on the BSG stent register, not generalists
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Fluoroscopy-equipped endoscopy rooms as standard
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A stocked range of covered, partially covered and biodegradable stents
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MDT discussion with oncology so brachytherapy and radiotherapy are considered alongside stenting
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards — honestly.
Oesophageal stenting is quick and highly effective for dysphagia, but it comes with predictable side effects. The things to plan for are chest pain, reflux, and how you eat once the stent is in.
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Chest pain for 24–48 hours
Almost everyone gets chest or back pain as the stent expands. It settles with simple analgesia and a PPI, and is not usually a sign of trouble.
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Reflux is near-universal
Especially with stents crossing the gastro-oesophageal junction. A lifelong PPI and sleeping propped up are standard.
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Chew thoroughly, sip fizzy drinks
Food impaction is the commonest late problem. Avoid bread, tough meat and fibrous vegetables, chew slowly, and sip a fizzy drink after eating to clear the stent.
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Stent migration 5–15%
More common with fully covered stents. Usually repositioned or replaced endoscopically — a nuisance rather than a disaster.
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Tumour or tissue overgrowth
Tumour can grow over the ends of any stent, or through the mesh of an uncovered one. A second overlapping stent or ablation usually restores flow.
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Bleeding and aspiration
Minor stent-related bleeding is uncommon; aspiration pneumonia is a real risk in the frail elderly and is weighed carefully before the procedure.
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Rare: fistula or perforation
A new fistula or perforation after stenting is rare but serious — sudden severe chest pain, fever or breathing trouble means an urgent hospital call.
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Dysphagia improvement is fast
Mellow-Pinkas dysphagia scores improve from 3 to 1 in 80–95% of patients within 48 hours. Median stent patency is three to six months.
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Red flags after the procedure
Severe unrelenting chest pain, high fever, breathlessness, black stools or vomiting blood — call the on-call endoscopy team or attend A&E the same day.
Reading your procedure note
Your procedure note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever stent was used, the note the endoscopist sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Endoscopy language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and stent chosen
Why the procedure was done — malignant dysphagia, T-E fistula, benign stricture, leak — and which stent type, length and diameter was deployed.
- 02 Technique
Sedation, fluoroscopy and deployment
Sedation used, findings at OGD, whether dilation was needed, how the guidewire and stent were placed, and confirmation of good position under X-ray.
- 03 Findings
Stricture length, position and margins
Length and site of the stricture, proximal and distal margins in centimetres from the incisors, and any second lesions or fistula seen.
- 04 Impression
Diet plan, PPI and follow-up
Read this first: when to start clear fluids and soft diet, PPI dose, what to avoid, and when the endoscopist wants to see you again.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for oesophageal stenting is usually straightforward when the indication is malignant dysphagia, a fistula or a leak. We confirm cover with your insurer before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about oesophageal stents.
Quick answers on how soon you will swallow again, cost, alternatives, and what you can eat afterwards.
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What is an oesophageal stent and why might I need one?
It is a self-expanding metal or polymer tube placed inside the oesophagus at endoscopy to hold a narrowed area open. The commonest reason is dysphagia from advanced oesophageal or gastric cancer, where a stent restores swallowing quickly. It is also used for malignant fistulas, benign leaks, and occasional refractory benign strictures.
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How quickly will I be able to swallow again?
Most patients notice a real improvement within 24 to 48 hours as the stent expands. Around 80 to 95% see their dysphagia score drop from severe (only liquids) to mild (can eat soft solids) within two days.
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Is it done under general anaesthetic?
Usually not. It is a day-case endoscopy under local throat spray plus light sedation with midazolam and fentanyl, or propofol. A general anaesthetic is available if you prefer, or if the anatomy is difficult.
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How much does a private oesophageal stent cost in the UK?
Roughly £5,500–£8,000 for a standard covered or partially covered SEMS, £6,500–£9,000 for a fistula case, and £6,000–£8,500 for a biodegradable stent. On the NHS the procedure is fully funded — many patients still choose private for speed and consultant continuity.
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What can I eat afterwards?
Sips of clear fluid for the first 24 hours, then a soft diet — think mash, yoghurt, soup, well-cooked fish. Avoid bread, tough meat and fibrous vegetables that can lodge in the stent. Chew thoroughly and sip a fizzy drink after eating to clear the stent.
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Are there alternatives to a stent?
Yes. For medium-prognosis malignant dysphagia, single-dose intraluminal brachytherapy gives better long-term palliation than a stent (SIREC trial), and the two can be combined. External beam radiotherapy suits patients with a life expectancy over three months. PEG feeding bypasses the oesophagus for nutrition, and endoscopic laser or APC ablation can recanalise a tumour.
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How long does the stent last?
Median patency is three to six months. Problems that shorten this — migration, tumour overgrowth, food impaction — are almost always dealt with at a repeat endoscopy rather than by a new procedure of the same size.
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When should I call for help after the procedure?
Severe or worsening chest pain beyond 48 hours, fever, breathlessness, black stools, vomiting blood, or a sudden return of complete dysphagia. Any of these needs the on-call endoscopy team or A&E the same day.
Related tests
Looking for something else?
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Oesophagectomy
Surgical resection for oesophageal cancer — when and how.
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All tests & procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
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Gastroscopy (OGD)
Diagnostic upper GI endoscopy under sedation.
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PEG feeding
Percutaneous gastrostomy for nutrition support.
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