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

Background. Treatment of tracheobronchial stenosis is problematic. Conservative methods include stenting the stenotic area, but an ideal stent has not yet been developed. Bioabsorbable airway stents offer benefits; the extraction of the device is unnecessary, and the airway preserves its normal function after stent resorption. The aim of this study was to examine the suitability of self-reinforced poly- -lactide as a material for an airway stent. Methods. A spiral airway stent made of 0.7-mm wire of self-reinforced poly- -lactide was implanted operatively in 9 rabbits intratracheally; silicone stents served as controls. Results. Silicone stents had a tendency to become stenosed with encrustation material and to develop a hyperplastic polyp at both ends. Self-reinforced poly- -lactide stents were well tolerated and caused no foreign body reaction, 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 bioabsorbable self-reinforced poly- -lactide is a promising material for an airway stent for treatment of airway stenosis.