A new biodegradable braided self-expandable PLGA prostatic stent: an experimental study in the rabbit.

Purpose: The biodegradable PLGA (a copolymer of L-lactide and glycolide) urethral stent with a spiral configuration has been used clinically for the prevention of postoperative urinary retention after different types of thermal therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia. A new braiding pattern for this stent has recently been developed by our group. The aim here was to investigate the in situ degradation and biocompatibility of the new braided stent in the rabbit urethra. Materials and Methods: PLGA stents with a one-over-one braiding pattern and steel stents served as controls that were inserted into the posterior urethras of 24 male rabbits using a special delivery instrument. The animals were sacrificed after 1 week, 1 month, 2 months, or 4 months, and light microscopy and histologic analyses were performed. Results: The delivery instrument worked well and cystoscopy was not needed in the insertion process. The braided PLGA stents degraded smoothly in 1 to 2 months. The metallic stents induced more epith...