title: Biodegradable stents in gastrointestinal endoscopy.
abstract: Biodegradable stents (BDSs) are an attractive option to avoid ongoing dilation or surgery in patients with benign stenoses of the small and large intestines. The experience with the currently the only BDS for endoscopic placement, made of Poly-dioxanone, have shown promising results. However some aspects should be improved as are the fact that BDSs lose their radial force over time due to the degradable material, and that can cause stent-induced mucosal or parenchymal injury. This complication rate and modest clinical efficacy has to be carefully considered in individual patients prior to placement of BDSs. Otherwise, the price of these stents therefore it is nowadays an important limitation.
authors.affiliation: Vicente Lorenzo-Zúñiga, Vicente Moreno-de-Vega, Ingrid Marín, Jaume Boix, Endoscopy Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lorenzo-Zúñiga
authors.affiliation: Vicente Lorenzo-Zúñiga, Vicente Moreno-de-Vega, Ingrid Marín, Jaume Boix, Endoscopy Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Moreno-de-Vega
authors.affiliation: Vicente Lorenzo-Zúñiga, Vicente Moreno-de-Vega, Ingrid Marín, Jaume Boix, Endoscopy Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.affiliation: Vicente Lorenzo-Zúñiga, Vicente Moreno-de-Vega, Ingrid Marín, Jaume Boix, Endoscopy Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boix
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Biodegradable stents; Endoscopic placement; Endoscopy; Stenoses; Strictures