A Comparison of a Fully Covered and an Uncovered Segmented Biodegradable Esophageal Stent in a Porcine Model: Preclinical Evaluation of Degradation, Complications, and Tissue Reactions

Figure 3

Endoscopic view of degradation procedures of an uncovered biodegradable stent ((a)–(e)) and a fully covered biodegradable stent ((f)–(j)) in vivo. (a) Week 0: immediately after an uncovered stent transplantation. (b) Week 1 after stent transplantation: no sign of degradation was present. (c) Week 3: larger stent meshes and partial separation of the stents from the esophageal wall at the stent trunk were present. (d) Week 8: stent structure breakage occurred. (e) Week 9: complete stent degradation of an uncovered biodegradable stent. (f) Week 0: immediately after a fully covered stent transplantation. (g) Week 1 after stent transplantation: no sign of degradation was present. (h) Week 3: larger stent meshes, partial separation of the stents from the esophageal wall at the stent trunk, and poly-L-lactic acid membrane fracture were present. (i) Week 9: stent structure breakage occurred in a fully covered biodegradable stent. (j) Week 10: complete stent degradation of a fully uncovered biodegradable stent.

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