Endoscopy 2011; 43(10): 911-917
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1256405
Case report/series

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Biodegradable stents for the treatment of benign stenoses of the small and large intestines

S.  Rejchrt1 , M.  Kopacova1 , J.  Brozik2 , J.  Bures1
  • 1Second Department of Internal Medicine and University Department of Gastroenterology, Charles University Teaching Hospital, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
  • 2Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Charles University Teaching Hospital, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
Further Information

Publication History

submitted 17 January 2011

accepted after revision 24 February 2011

Publication Date:
27 May 2011 (online)

Biodegradable stents, which are made of various synthetic polymers, such as polylactide or polyglycolide, or co-polymers, such as polydioxanone, can be used for the treatment of benign refractory stenoses of the gastrointestinal tract. Here we report 11 patients (median age 41) with stenosing Crohn’s disease of the small and/or large intestine. Endoscopic insertion of a biodegradable stent was successful at the first attempt in all patients except one. Subsequent follow-up was for a mean of 16 months, median 17 months, range 12 – 29 months. Early stent migration (between 2 days and 8 weeks) was seen in three patients. Mucosal overgrowth (epithelial hyperplasia) was not observed in any of the patients during the follow-up period. The high rate of early stent migration might be solved by appropriate tailoring and further improvements in the design of the biodegradable stents. Proof of long-term efficacy and safety requires further studies.

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S. RejchrtMD, PhD 

2nd Department of Internal Medicine
University Teaching Hospital

Sokolska 581
50005 Hradec Kralove
Czech Republic

Fax: +420-495-834785

Email: rejchrt@lfhk.cuni.cz