Abstract:

BACKGROUND: In the last 20 year, gastrointestinal endoscopic intervention as a new minimally invasive technique is developed as the preferred method for treatment of gastrointestinal stenosis or obstruction.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical values of biodegradable and metal gastrointestinal stents.
METHODS: A computer-based search of CNKI and PubMed was performed for relevant articles published 1993-01/2010-11 using the keywords of “digestive tract, biomaterials, metal stent, composite materials, composite stent”. Repetitive articles or metal-analysis were excluded.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Finally, 25 articles were included in result analysis. Endoscopic high-frequency transurethral electrocoagulation, microwave, bougienage have a certain effect on gastrointestinal stenosis, but the effect lasts only for a short time. This treatment need to be repeated. Metal stents are characterized as easy to be implanted, less invasion, few complications and relatively low costs. Biodegradable stents can resolve the problems of recanalization of benign and malignant stenosis and through the malignant stricture and fistula closure, showing an effective expansion and clinical safety in the treatment of digestive diseases. However, material selection, stent design and degradation time regulation require further studies in the clinical application of biodegradable stents.