title: Self-expandable biodegradable biliary stents in porcine model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment or prevention of a benign biliary tree stricture is an unresolved problem. A novel self-expandable biodegradable polydioxanon biliary stent in a porcine model was studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  This new stent was used in 23 pigs. Feasibility and safety of surgical stenting, time of biodegradation, and histologic reaction in 2, 8, 13, and 20 wk of a follow-up were studied. All stents were inserted into a common bile duct through a duodenal papilla following small dilatation. After surgical evaluation of abdominal cavities, the pigs were sacrificed to remove common bile ducts with the stents. All bile ducts were assessed by macroscopic and histopathologic examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Self-expansion was correct in all cases. Neither bile duct obstruction nor postsurgical complications were observed. Macroscopic evaluation indicated lightening of the stent color in 2 wk, a partial disintegration in 8 wk, and a complete absorption in 13 and 20 wk. Histologic evaluation in general substantiated a mild-to-moderate inflammatory reaction in the lamina propria during the whole follow up and had no clinical consequences. No cholangitis, necrosis, abscess, or excessive fibroplasia was found in a hepatoduodenal ligament.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that polydioxanon biodegradable self-expanding stents seem to be useful for biliary system implantation, offer a good biocompatibility, and completely degrade within 13 wk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic. Electronic address: tgrolich@fnbrno.cz.
authors.forename: Tomáš
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Grolich
authors.affiliation: CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crha
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic; Finn Pathologists, Department of histology, Weybread, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ladislav
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Novotný
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Zdeněk
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kala
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatogastroenterology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Aleš
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hep
authors.affiliation: CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Alois
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nečas
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hlavsa
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Ladislav
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mitáš
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Military Health Sciences, Department of Toxicology, University of Defence, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Misík
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001649:Bile Duct Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D001662:Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000601:surgery; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015607:Stents; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials
keywords: Biliary tree; Biodegradable stent; Polydioxanon