Viewpoint in 2009

The optimal duration for stent placement in patients with refractory, benign esophageal strictures (RBES) is not clear. This Viewpoint article discusses the types of stent available for RBES, their benefits and limitations, and the factors that influence stenting duration. The authors provide their opinion regarding optimal stent choice and duration on the basis of available evidence and their own experience.

IBS is a major drain on health-care resources, partly because the pharmacological management of this condition is currently unsatisfactory. Cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy and hypnotherapy can help by providing a global therapeutic approach for IBS. This Viewpoint article discusses the available evidence for these behavioral therapies and highlights the benefits and the difficulties of using such approaches.