Biodegradable stent placement in the esophagus

• Published in: Expert review of medical devices Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 37 - 43
• Main Authors: van Boeckel, Petra GA, Vleggaar, Frank P, Siersema, Peter D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01.01.2013; Expert Reviews Ltd; Informa Healthcare
• Subjects: (refractory) benign esophageal stricture; Absorbable Implants; biodegradable stent; Biomedical materials; dysphagia; Equipment Failure Analysis; esophageal perforation/leak; Esophagus; Esophagus - surgery; Health aspects; Humans; malignant esophageal stricture; Materials; Physiological aspects; Prosthesis Design; Prosthesis Failure; Prosthesis Implantation - methods; Stent (Surgery); Stents; Czech Republic
• ISSN: 1743-4440; 1745-2422
• DOI: 10.1586/erd.12.45

Biodegradable stents overcome some of the problems encountered with self-expanding metal stents. They main advantage over self-expanding metal stents is that endoscopic removal is not needed. Single biodegradable stents are often only temporarily effective in patients with a refractory benign esophageal stricture, as in the majority dysphagia recurs. If this occurs, sequential biodegradable stent placement may be an effective alternative to avoid the burden of serial dilations. In the future, it can be expected that (covered) biodegradable stents will be available to treat benign esophageal perforations/leaks, but also that they will be used for treating malignant indications combined with other (palliative) modalities, such as bridge to surgery or to maintain luminal patency during neoadjuvant chemoradiation.