Novel Biodegradable Stents for Benign Esophageal Strictures Following Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection

• Published in: Digestive diseases and sciences Vol. 53; no. 2; pp. 330 - 333
• Main Authors: Saito, Yasuharu, Tanaka, Toyohiko, Andoh, Akira, Minematsu, Hideki, Hata, Kazunori, Tsujikawa, Tomoyuki, Nitta, Norihisa, Murata, Kiyoshi, Fujiyama, Yoshihide
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.02.2008; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Absorbable Implants; Biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - surgery; Digestive System Surgical Procedures - adverse effects; Dissection - adverse effects; Endoscopy; Esophageal Neoplasms - surgery; Esophageal Stenosis - etiology; Esophageal Stenosis - therapy; Esophagus; Gastroenterology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Hepatology; Humans; Lactic Acid; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Oncology; Original Paper; Other diseases. Semiology; Polyesters; Polymers; Prosthesis Design; Stents; Transplant Surgery; lactic acid; Benign stricture; Endoscopic submucosal dissection; Poly; Esophageal disease; Instrumentation therapy; Digestive diseases; Esophageal stenosis; Submucosal resection; Lactic acid; Endoscopy; Stent; Poly-L-lactic acid
• ISSN: 0163-2116; 1573-2568
• DOI: 10.1007/s10620-007-9873-6

The application of metallic stents for benign stenosis is limited due to long-term complications. We report here the results of the implantation of a novel biodegradable poly- l -lactic acid (PLLA) esophageal stent in two patients with benign esophageal stenosis after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Case 1 was a 64-year-old man who received ESD for an early squamous esophageal cancer in the middle esophagus. The mucosal defect was seven-eighths of the circumference, and the distal margin of the resection scar formed the stenosis. After balloon dilatation, the PLLA esophageal stent was endoscopically placed; for 6 months, he has not experienced any symptoms of re-stenosis. Case 2 consisted of a 62-year-old man who developed an early squamous esophageal cancer in the middle esophagus. The lesion was resected by ESD, and the mucosal defect was seven-eighths of the circumference. The resection scar formed the stenosis, and the PLLA esophageal stent was endoscopically placed. He also has not experienced any symptoms of re-stenosis for 6 months. In conclusion, the PLLA esophageal stent provides a new possibility for the management of benign esophageal strictures after ESD. Due to the biodegradable features of this stent, longer term studies are necessary to investigate the relationship between the expected disappearance of the stent and the patency of the stricture.