Usefulness of biodegradable stents constructed of poly-l-lactic acid monofilaments in patients with benign esophageal stenosis

AIM To report 13patients with benign esophageal stenosis treated with the biodegradable stent.METHODS Wedeveloped a Ultraflex-type stent by knitting poly-l-lactic acid monofilaments.RESULTS Twocases were esophageal stenosis caused by drinking of caustic liquid, 4 cases were due tosurgical resection of esophageal cancers, and 7 cases were patients with esophageal cancerwho received the preventive placement of biodegradable stents for postendoscopic mucosaldissection (ESD) stenosis. The preventive placement was performed within 2 to 3 d afterESD. In 10 of the 13 cases, spontaneous migration of the stents occurred between 10 to 21d after placement. In these cases, the migrated stents were excreted with the feces, andno obstructive complications were experienced. In 3 cases, the stents remained at theproper location on d 21 after placement. No symptoms of re-stenosis were observed withinthe follow-up period of 7 mo to 2 years. Further treatment with balloon dilatation orreplacement of the biodegradable stent was not required.CONCLUSION Biodegradable stentswere useful for the treatment of benign esophageal stenosis, particularly for theprevention of post-ESD stenosis.