Synthetic bioabsorbable stent material for duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction

J Surg Res. 2009 Jan;151(1):85-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2008.02.056. Epub 2008 Apr 3.

Abstract

Biliary stricture remains a significant cause of morbidity after liver transplantation. We performed duct-to-duct biliary anastomosis by using an absorbable stent tube with a diameter equal to that of pig common bile duct as an internal stent. The stent tube was constructed using a synthetic biodegradable material-a lactic glycolic acid and epsilon-caprolactone copolymer. Three pigs were alive without cholestasis for 180 d; however, 1 pig died on the 65th postoperative d, and autopsy revealed no cholestasis or biliary sledge in the biliary stent tube. The 3 pigs were euthanized for histological examinations 180 d after surgery; the biliary stent tube was completely absorbed by this time. These experimental results showed the good patency of the absorbable biliary stent tube. In the future, the absorbable biliary stent tube is expected to be clinically developed as a biliary stent for biliary anastomosis, which may protect the biliary anastomotic stricture.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Absorbable Implants*
  • Anastomosis, Surgical / methods*
  • Animals
  • Caproates
  • Cholestasis / surgery
  • Common Bile Duct / surgery*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Glycolates
  • Lactones
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Stents*
  • Swine
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Caproates
  • Glycolates
  • Lactones
  • glycolic acid
  • caprolactone