Plastic biliary stents are typically exchanged about every three months before they clog; self-expanding metal stents stay patent for many months to years. The interval depends on stent type and the reason for placement, and returning jaundice or fever means it needs attention.
You can eat, with modifications: stay upright during and after meals, chew thoroughly, favor soft moist foods, and drink fluids to keep the stent clear. Large, tough, or doughy foods are the usual cause of a blocked esophageal stent.
