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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 7, 2014; 20(9): 2212-2217
Published online Mar 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i9.2212
Published online Mar 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i9.2212
Biodegradable stents in gastrointestinal endoscopy
Vicente Lorenzo-Zúñiga, Vicente Moreno-de-Vega, Ingrid Marín, Jaume Boix, Endoscopy Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Badalona, Spain
Vicente Lorenzo-Zúñiga, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), 08916 Badalona, Spain
Author contributions: Lorenzo-Zúñiga V was involved in editing the manuscript and wrote the manuscript; Moreno-de-Vega V, Marín I and Boix J revised the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Vicente Lorenzo-Zúñiga, MD, PhD, Endoscopy Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Carretera del Canyet s/n. 08916 Badalona, Spain. vlorenzo.germanstrias@gencat.cat
Telephone: +34-93-4978866 Fax: +34-93-4978866
Received: September 17, 2013
Revised: November 2, 2013
Accepted: December 3, 2013
Published online: March 7, 2014
Processing time: 170 Days and 12.6 Hours
Revised: November 2, 2013
Accepted: December 3, 2013
Published online: March 7, 2014
Processing time: 170 Days and 12.6 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: The experience with the currently the only biodegradable stents (BDSs) for endoscopic placement, made of poly-dioxanone, have shown promising results. However some aspects should be improved as are the fact that BDSs lose their radial force over time due to the degradable material, and that can cause stent-induced mucosal or parenchymal injury. This complication rate and modest clinical efficacy has to be carefully considered in individual patients prior to placement of BDSs. Otherwise, the price of these stents therefore it is nowadays an important limitation.