THE ROLE OF POLYMERIC SURFACE SMOOTHNESS OF BILIARY STENTS IN BACTERIAL ADHERENCE, BIOFILM DEPOSITION, AND STENT OCCLUSION

Bacterial adherence and biofilm deposition onto the surface of polymer s used for biliary stents are the initial events that ultimately lead to stent occlusion. Vivathane is a new polymer with an ultrasmooth sur face. In this study, stents made from Vivathane were compared to stand ard plastic stents in an in vitro model. Polyethylene, C-flex, and Viv athane stents were connected in parallel and perfused with infected bi le. The surfaces of the polyethylene and C-flex stents developed exube rant bacterial growth and biliary sludge deposition. Vivathane stents were nearly free of bacteria and demonstrated no propensity for biliar y sludge deposition. These results indicate that polymeric surface irr egularities promote bacterial adherence, biofilm deposition, and accum ulation of biliary sludge. The ultrasmooth surface of Vivathane does n ot allow bacterial adherence and biofilm deposition. Vivathane holds p romise as a new polymer for use in biliary stents in long-term applica tions.