Woven polydioxanone biodegradable stents: a new treatment option for benign and malignant oesophageal strictures.
BACKGROUND
We present our initial experience with a new biodegradable (BD) esophageal stent in two patients, one for a therapy-resistant benign esophageal stricture, and the other as a temporary measure during curative radiotherapy for oesophageal carcinoma.


METHODS
The BD stents need to be loaded into a conventional pull-back delivery system but are then placed in a standard fashion. Pre-dilatation should be avoided to reduce the risk of migration, however if migration occurs the stents can be left to dissolve in the stomach. The stents are radiolucent but easily identified on CT with minimal artefact and thus might even aid with radiotherapy planning.


RESULTS
BD stents offer an exciting new strategy for therapy-resistant benign strictures as well as a supportive measure for oesophageal cancer undergoing non-surgical treatment.
Stivaros
S M
SM
Department of Radiology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Wilmslow Road, Manchester, M20 4BX, UK.
Williams
L R
LR
Senger
C
C
Wilbraham
L
L
Laasch
Hans-Ulrich
HU
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016292:Procedural Sedation; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016687:Polydioxanone; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D012042:Registries; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016687:Polydioxanone