Effect of drug-eluting metal stents in benign esophageal stricture: an in vivo animal study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study in canines was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of self-expandable metal stents, which were coated with paclitaxel to minimize the tissue response.


METHODS
14 dogs (5-10 kg) were randomly allocated to two groups. Drug-eluting stents (DES, n = 7) or nondrug-eluting stents (non-DES, n = 7) were endoscopically inserted and fixed in the esophagus of healthy dogs. Every 2 weeks, for a maximum period of 8 weeks, an endoscopic examination was performed to evaluate the status of stent insertion, the grade of tissue hyperplasia, and mucosal change at both ends of the stent.


RESULTS
One case of stent migration was observed after 4 weeks in the non-DES group. In this group, tissue reaction and hyperplasia remained for more than 4 weeks after stent insertion. By contrast, an endoscopic examination of the surrounding esophageal mucosa in the DES group showed very little tissue reaction, and the stent was easily separated from the esophageal tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
Although further studies are required to confirm our results, we suggest that these newly designed DES may provide an alternative tool to manage refractory benign esophageal stricture.
Digestive Disease Center, Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
S R
SR
Jeon
S H
SH
Eun
C S
CS
Shim
C B
CB
Ryu
J O
JO
Kim
J Y
JY
Cho
J S
JS
Lee
M S
MS
Lee
S Y
SY
Jin
D000497:Alloys; D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D054855:Drug-Eluting Stents; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D004867:Equipment Design; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000473:pathology*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D004947:Esophagus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D022001:Focal Adhesions; D006097:Granulation Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000497:Alloys; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C013616:nitinol; D017239:Paclitaxel