BACKGROUND: Treatment of tracheobronchial stenosis is problematic. Conservative methods include stenting the stenotic area, but an ideal stent has not yet been developed. Bioabsorbable airway stents offer benefits; the extraction of the device is unnecessary, and the airway preserves its normal function after stent resorption. The aim of this study was to examine the suitability of self-reinforced poly-L-lactide as a material for an airway stent. METHODS: A spiral airway stent made of 0.7-mm wire of self-reinforced poly-L-lactide was implanted operatively in 9 rabbits intratracheally; silicone stents served as controls. RESULTS: Silicone stents had a tendency to become stenosed with encrustation material and to develop a hyperplastic polyp at both ends. Self-reinforced poly-L-lactide stents were well tolerated and caused no foreign body reaction, and they had a tendency to penetrate into the tracheal wall. They had disappeared at the end of the follow-up of 10 months. CONCLUSIONS: This experimental study showed that bioabsorbable self-reinforced poly-L-lactide is a promising material for an airway stent for treatment of airway stenosis.
BACKGROUND: Treatment of tracheobronchial stenosis is problematic. Conservative methods include stenting the stenotic area, but an ideal stent has not yet been developed. Bioabsorbable airway stents offer benefits; the extraction of the device is unnecessary, and the airway preserves its normal function after stent resorption. The aim of this study was to examine the suitability of self-reinforced poly-L-lactide as a material for an airway stent. METHODS: A spiral airway stent made of 0.7-mm wire of self-reinforced poly-L-lactide was implanted operatively in 9 rabbits intratracheally; silicone stents served as controls. RESULTS:Silicone stents had a tendency to become stenosed with encrustation material and to develop a hyperplastic polyp at both ends. Self-reinforced poly-L-lactide stents were well tolerated and caused no foreign body reaction, and they had a tendency to penetrate into the tracheal wall. They had disappeared at the end of the follow-up of 10 months. CONCLUSIONS: This experimental study showed that bioabsorbable self-reinforced poly-L-lactide is a promising material for an airway stent for treatment of airway stenosis.
Authors: David E Ost; Archan M Shah; Xiudong Lei; Myrna C B Godoy; Carlos A Jimenez; George A Eapen; Pushan Jani; Andrew J Larson; Mona G Sarkiss; Rodolfo C Morice Journal: Chest Date: 2011-12-22 Impact factor: 9.410