Comparison of tissue reactions in the tracheal mucosa surrounding a bioabsorbable and silicone airway stents

Background. Treatment of tracheobronchial stenosis is problematic. Conserva tive methods include stenting the stenotic area, but an ideal stent has not yet been developed. Bioabsorbable airway stents offer benefits; the extrac tion of the device is unnecessary, and the airway preserves its normal func tion after stent resorption. The aim of this study was to examine the suita bility 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 tvas implanted operatively in 9 rabbits intratracheally; silicone stents served as controls. Results. Silicone stents had a tendency to become stenosed with encrustatio n material and to develop a hyperplastic polyp at both ends. Self-reinforce d poly-L-lactide stents were well tolerated and caused no foreign body reac tion, 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 bio-absorbable self-reinfo rced poly-L-lactide is a promising material for an airway stent for treatme nt of airway stenosis. (C) 1998 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.