Use of Biodegradable Stent in Refractory Benign Oesophageal Stricture

Abstract

Introduction: Oesophageal strictures are commonly seen in patients with accidental or intentional ingestion of corrosive substances. Long-term anti-secretory therapy and recurrent pneumatic balloon dilatations are the mainstay of management, if not surgery. There is anecdotal evidence in using biodegradable stents in this setting. Medical and endoscopic records (using Unisoft software) of a patient with benign refractory oesophageal stricture related to caustic ingestion were reviewed. We describe a 42-year-old woman with benign refractory oesophageal stricture related to intentional industrial bleach ingestion. This patient required 46 oesophageal pneumatic balloon dilatations over 5 years with frequent recurrence of clinical symptoms at short intervals. She manifested excellent response to biodegradable stent which gave her dysphagia-free survival for 18 months in addition to anti-secretory medications without any complication. Diagnosing and staging of corrosive upper gastrointestinal surgery is managed on individual basis. Use of biodegradable stent earlier in this setting prevents long-term morbidity and provides clinical remission effectively.