Usefulness of biodegradable stents constructed of poly-/-lactic acid monofilaments in patients with benign esophageal stenosis

• Published in: 世界胃肠病学杂志（英文版） Vol. 13; no. 29; pp. 3977 - 3980
• Main Authors: Yasuharu Saito, Toyohiko Tanaka, Akira Andoh, Hideki Minematsu, Kazunori Hata, Tomoyuki Tsujikawa, Norihisa Nitta, Kiyoshi Murata, Yoshihide Fujiyama
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Department of Endoscopic Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tukinowa, Otsu 520-2192,Japan%Department of Radiology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tukinowa, Otsu 520-2192, Japan%Department of Internal Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tukinowa,Otsu 520-2192, Japan 07.08.2007
• Subjects: Endoscopic submucosal dissection; Stents; Esophageal cancer
• ISSN: 1007-9327
• DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i29.3977

R5; AIM: To report 13 patients with benign esophageal stenosis treated with the biodegradable stent.METHODS: We developed a Ultraflex-type stent by knitting poly-l-lactic acid monofilaments.RESULTS: Two cases were esophageal stenosis caused by drinking of caustic liquid, 4 cases were due to surgical resection of esophageal cancers, and 7 cases were patients with esophageal cancer who received the preventive placement of biodegradable stents for postendoscopic mucosal dissection (ESD) stenosis. The preventive placement was performed within 2 to 3 d after ESD. In 10 of the 13 cases, spontaneous migration of the stents occurred between 10 to 21 d after placement. In these cases, the migrated stents were excreted with the feces, and no obstructive complications were experienced. In 3 cases, the stents remained at the proper location on d 21 after placement. No symptoms of re-stenosis were observed within the follow-up period of 7 mo to 2 years. Further treatment with balloon dilatation or replacement of the biodegradable stent was not required.CONCLUSION: Biodegradable stents were useful for the treatment of benign esophageal stenosis, particularly for the prevention of post-ESD stenosis.