title: Use of bio-degradable stents for the treatment of refractory benign gastrointestinal stenoses.
abstract: Bio-degradable stents are be made of different synthetic polymers (like polylactide or polyglycolide) or their co-polymers (polydioxanone). They can be used for treating benign stenoses of the small and large intestine, particularly in Crohn's disease. Endoscopic introduction of bio-degradable stents into small and large intestinal stenoses is feasible and relatively simple. Initial results are encouraging and the complication rate is low. However, there are still some difficulties that need to be overcome. The rate of early stent migration is still rather high (up to one third of patients). This might be solved by changes in the shape or rigidity of the stents as well as by further improvement in the design. Proof of long-term efficacy and safety requires further studies.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. rejchrt@lfhk.cuni.cz
authors.forename: Stanislav
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rejchrt
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bures
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brozík
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kopácová
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011108:Polymers; D015607:Stents
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers