Evaluation of the use of a biodegradable ureteral stent after retrograde endopyelotomy in a porcine model.

Purpose: We evaluated the use of a poly-L-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) bioabsorbable ureteral stent after Acucise balloon incision (Applied Medical Resources, Rancho Santa Magarita, California) endopyelotomy in a porcine model.Materials and Methods: After unilateral Acucise endopyelotomy in 9 female Yucatan minipigs a self-reinforced PLGA stent was placed in 5 (group 1) and a 7Fr double pigtail Percuflex stent (Boston Scientific, Natick, Massachusetts) was placed in 4 (group 2). Preoperatively, and 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively plain x-ray of the kidneys, ureters and bladder, cystography, side specific creatinine clearance and retrograde ureterography were done. The contralateral ureters served as untreated controls. The 7Fr stents were removed at 6 weeks. All animals were sacrificed at 12 weeks after bilateral flow studies. Histological specimens from 4 sites along the urinary tract were graded on a healing score of 0—normal, to 3—severe changes.Results: Side specific creatinine clearance was similar to ...