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  • Title: Novel biodegradable stents in the treatment of bronchial stenosis after lung transplantation.
    Author: Lischke R, Pozniak J, Vondrys D, Elliott MJ.
    Journal: Eur J Cardiothorac Surg; 2011 Sep; 40(3):619-24. PubMed ID: 21334911.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of novel biodegradable (BD) stents to treat bronchial anastomotic stenosis in patients after lung transplantation. METHODS: Twenty BD stents were implanted endoscopically in six patients (median age 41.5 years (range 35-57 years)) with post-transplant bronchial anastomotic stenoses, between 2006 and 2010. All stents were custom-made from bio-absorbable polydioxanone (PDS). The median stent diameter was 12 mm (8-17 mm) and median length was 20mm (12-30 mm). All patients were evaluated clinically, by bronchoscopy and high-definition computed tomography (CT). RESULTS: The stenosis was initially relieved in all cases. There was no bleeding, perforation or displacement after BD stent implantation. Four patients needed multiple stenting for anastomotic re-stenosis. Median time to any re-stenting was 5 months (2-15 months). There was one sudden death, 1 year after the last BD stent implantation, from a pulmonary embolus. All five survivors are in good clinical condition up to 4 years' follow-up (median 40 months, range 7-48 months) since first stenting and intervention-free up to 44 months (median 24 months, range 7-44 months). CONCLUSIONS: This small pilot study shows that BD stents are a safe, effective and reliable alternative to classical metallic stents in patients with anastomotic stenosis after lung transplantation, and may avoid the need for permanent stenting.
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