A small tube known as a stent has been inserted into your oesophagus (gullet) and/or your stomach/duodenum (the first part of the bowel). This has been inserted at the site where you may have a blockage or narrowing and will allow food to pass through your digestive system more easily by expanding and holding the narrowed area open.
This diet sheet will advise how to build on your diet following stent.
insertion and advise which foods can be included. It is important that you follow the advice given in this booklet to reduce your risk of blocking the stent.
Everyone manages differently after stent placement. It is important to introduce foods gradually to build your confidence and ensure that you are able to manage the correct food texture. A little and often approach to eating is often better tolerated.
You may find it helpful to:
- Eat slowly and try to relax as much as possible
- Take your time with meals and chew your foods well
- Food should always be eaten sitting upright and you should remain sitting for one hour after eating
- If you wear dentures, make sure they fit properly
- If you have problems with reflux, your doctor can prescribe anti-reflux or antacids to help with this problem
- Drink small amounts of warm or fizzy fluid before, during and after meals to assist in flushing food through the stent (hard swallows). Avoid drinking large amounts at mealtimes as this will fill you up
- Use herbs and spices to add more flavour to foods
- Try to include favourite or fancied foods appropriate for your stent to promote food enjoyment
- Avoid eating up to one hour before going to bed.
Stage 1– Liquid diet
Immediately after you have had your stent inserted, it is recommended that you follow a liquid diet. A liquid diet has a smooth pouring consistency and is free from lumps.
Helpful hints:
- Start with sips of water for the first couple of hours, progressing to cups of tea, coffee, fruit juice (smooth) or milk
- Take your time when taking fluids
- Try to include full cream milk fortified with milk powder (to make; add four tablespoons of dried milk powder to one pint of full fat milk and mix well).
- You should follow this stage for 24 hours.
Ideas for nutritious drinks:
- Drinks made with full cream milk – coffee, hot chocolate, Ovaltine, or Horlicks
- Fortified full cream milk (see recipe above)
- Milkshakes with ice cream flavourings
- Complan or Build Up
- Yoghurt drinks
- Ice cream can be added to fizzy drinks
- Oral supplement drinks if you are prescribed these.
Stage 2 – Pureed Diet
After 24 hours, if liquids are tolerated, foods can be reintroduced starting with a pureed diet. A pureed diet should be lump free and have a smooth consistency. A blender or food processor can be used for blending foods.
Try including:
- Ice cream or sorbet
- Smooth yoghurts, custards, and mousses
- Pureed fruit served with cream, ice cream or custard.
- Mashed or sieved vegetables
- Blended or strained soups
- Blended meat, fish, and eggs
- Gravy or sauce to food when blending. Avoid adding additional water as this will reduce the flavour and nutritional content
- Extra butter, cream, or cheese to food to add more energy.
- Fibre foods pureed such as Weetabix, pureed fruit and vegetables, beans and lentils to prevent constipation.
- Plenty of fluids across the day – six to eight cups daily, trying to include full cream milk where possible.
- Extra flavouring such as herbs and spices, smooth mustard, and bottled sauces
- Presenting pureed food on a plate using an ice cream scoop or piping it through different nozzles or in different shapes using moulds, e.g., jelly moulds.
If you tolerate pureed food, you can progress to Stage 3 – a soft diet.
Stage 3 – Soft diet
At this stage, food no longer needs to be pureed. A soft diet requires little chewing and can be mashed or broken into pieces with a fork. All food should be very soft and without lumps before they are swallowed.
Helpful hints:
- Moisten food with additional gravy, sauces, cream, or cream cheese to adjust the consistency and make swallowing easier.
- Chop foods finely or mash before adding a gravy or sauce.
- Try having soft fibre foods such as Weetabix, stewed fruit, and vegetables, as well as lentils to prevent constipation.
- Beans can also be included if these are blended / pureed.
- Include plenty of fluids across the day; six to eight cups daily, trying to include full cream milk where possible.
- Check all foods for bones and skin and remove these before eating.
Soft meal ideas
Breakfast
Porridge, Rice Krispies, or cornflakes
Scrambled or poached eggs
Omelette with cheese
Light meals
Soup without lumps (i.e., cream of chicken, tomato, or blended soups)
Mashed potato with tuna, salmon, or white sauce
Finely mashed egg with lots of butter or margarine
Pancakes or crepes with a moist filling
Ravioli
Cauliflower cheese (well-cooked in lots of sauce)
Main Meals
Corned beef hash
Fish in sauce
Macaroni cheese
Cheese soufflé
Mince in gravy with mash
Tuna in white or cheese sauce
Shepherd’s pie
Pasta with bolognese sauce
Chilli con carne and rice
Curry and rice
Desserts
Rice pudding
Stewed fruit with custard or ice cream
Sponge and custard
Pot desserts such as yoghurt, crème caramels, trifle, or mousse
Ice cream
Jelly
Tinned fruit
| Foods to avoid | Alternatives |
| Bread | |
| Coarse cereals such as Shredded Wheat, Bran and Muesli | Plain porridge, Weetabix, Cornflakes or Rice Krispies |
| Tough meat or gristle | Tender meat, no gristle. Try meat which has been minced or try stewed meat which is tender |
| Fish skins and bones, fish in batter or breadcrumbs | Flaked fish in sauce |
| Chunks of cheese | Grated cheese or in a sauce |
| Sticky cheese such as Camembert | Soft cheese or cheese spread |
| Hard boiled or fried eggs | Soft poached, scrambled eggs or eggs mashed well with salad cream or mayonnaise |
| Hard, raw or fibrous vegetables e.g., peas, corn, cabbage, green beans, celery, and broccoli. | Well cooked, soft vegetables |
| Salad leaves and lettuce | |
| Beans such as baked beans taken whole | Blended or pureed beans |
| Skins and seeds of tomatoes | Remove skin or choose tinned tomatoes |
| Hard chips or roast potatoes, potato skins | Mashed or soft-boiled potatoes |
| Dried fruit | Peel fresh fruit and chew well |
| Pith of oranges or grapefruit Skins of fresh fruit. Fibrous fruit e.g., pineapple, strawberries | Choose canned fruit which may be softer. Remove seeds from fresh fruit e.g., watermelon |
| Coarse marmalade, seeds, or fruit pieces in jam | Rind less marmalade, fruit spreads, seedless jam |
| Nuts or cereal bars made with nuts | Try smooth peanut butter |
Fortifying your food
If you have a small appetite and cannot manage large portions, it is important to make the food you are eating higher in calories without increasing the size of the portion. Try some of the following:
- Add four heaped tablespoons of powdered milk to one pint of full cream milk and use throughout the day in breakfast cereals, sauces, puddings, soups, jellies, and other desserts.
- Add additional butter to foods such as vegetables, potatoes, and pasta.
- Use grated hard or soft cheeses on foods, in mashed/baked potato, soups, spaghetti or omelettes.
- Add cream to puddings and soups or serve meals with creamy sauces
- Use plenty of sugar/honey/syrup on cereals, in hot drinks and puddings.
- Add a scoop of ice cream to cold drinks
- Add pesto/hummus to pasta
- Use peanut butter with toast or bread
- Use milk instead of water to make packet or condensed soups, jellies, and desserts
- Choose full fat products such as thick and creamy yoghurts
How do I avoid my stent from blocking?
- Cut your foods into smaller pieces and take small mouthfuls. Include plenty of sauces or gravy with your meals to make the food moister.
- Chew foods well and take time when eating – foods should be swallowed only when sufficiently chewed.
- Sit upright at mealtimes and for one hour afterwards.
- Avoid eating foods which are difficult to break down despite chewing and which may block your stent (see foods to avoid).
- Include sips of fluid during and after eating foods. Warm or fizzy drinks may be helpful however for some people fizzy drinks may worsen symptoms of heartburn or acid reflux.
- Ask your doctor or specialist nurse about medication which is difficult to swallow:
- Ask if your medicines are available in liquid form.
- Ask your pharmacist if crushing your medication is an option, as some pills may become less effective when crushed.
Signs and Symptoms of a blocked stent
- Eating and drinking may become difficult or uncomfortable
- You may not be able to get your food or liquids down at all
- Regurgitation (vomiting) of food or liquids if these will not go down
What if my stent blocks?
If you have an oesophageal stent, and feel that your tube has blocked, do not panic. Stop eating, stand up and take a few sips of a drink. If that does not help, take a few sips of a warm or fizzy drink, and walk around. If the blockage does not clear within 1-2 hours, contact your upper GI nurse specialist or seek medical help.
Potential problems with your stent
Pain
As the stent expands, it can cause some pain in the chest area, although this should improve after 72 hours. Painkillers may be helpful; however, if the pain persists, please contact your Upper GI nurse specialist or your medical team.
Acid Reflux
Some people may experience heartburn or acid reflux afterwards, but again this is usually controlled by simple measures or medication.
An antacid medication may be helpful—please discuss with your Upper GI nurse specialist or your doctor regarding your symptoms and medications which can be prescribed. Avoiding sleeping flat, it may help with the problem.
Swallowing Problems
If you still find it difficult to swallow despite having the stent placed and following the advice in this booklet, please contact your Upper GI nurse specialist or your doctor who can arrange to review you and check that your stent is in the correct position.
Contact Us
Nutrition and Dietetics
Nutrition and Dietetic Service
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Sheriff Hill
Gateshead
NE9 6SX
