Biodegradation of poly(l-lactide-co-glycolide) tube stents in bile

The objective of this study was to evaluate degradation behavior and the feasibility of biodegradable polymeric stents in common bile duct (CBD) repair and reconstruction. Various molar ratios of lactide (LA) and glycolide (GA) in poly(l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) were synthesized and processed into a circular tubing of ∼10.0 mm outer diameter and a wall thickness of about 2.0 mm. This tubing was cut into 40.0 mm length to form CBD stents. The stents were placed into human bile to determine the degradation behavior in vitro. The morphology, configuration, mass loss, water uptake, molecular weight and composition changes were examined. The PLGA with LA/GA = 71/29 exhibited an acceptable degradation life and was chosen as an in vivo stent material. These PLGA stents were used in common bile duct exploration (CBDE) and primary suturing for rats. Degradation status of the stents was examined and comparison was made between those before and after surgical procedure. The results showed that the polymer stents exhibited the same biomedical functions as T tubes and spontaneously disappeared from CBD in 4-5 weeks. Therefore, the PLGA stents fits the requirements in repair and reconstruction of CBD, to support the duct, guide bile drainage and reduce T-tube-related complications.