3D-Printed Gastrointestinal Stents: In Vivo Evaluation in a Swine Small Bowel Perforation Model

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Gastroenterology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Gastrointestinal fistulae and perforations pose significant risks, including sepsis and mortality.
• Current treatments may require stent removal after healing, adding complexity.
• Personalized gastrointestinal stents offer a potential solution to prevent leakage and complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of 3D-printed poly-lactic-acid (PLA) gastrointestinal stents in an in vivo swine model.
• To assess the ability of custom-designed stents to prevent leakage and retain intestinal contents.
• To determine if these stents can prevent abdominal sepsis in the presence of intestinal defects.

Main Methods:

• Custom gastrointestinal stent dimensions were determined using computed tomography (CT) imaging for each swine subject.
• PLA stents were implanted following an induced intestinal incision.
• A 1-cm intestinal defect was maintained over the stent to test its integrity over a two-week period.
• Stent efficacy was assessed post-necropsy via histological and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis.

Main Results:

• The 3D-printed gastrointestinal stents successfully prevented abdominal sepsis in all subjects over the two-week study period.
• Histology and SEM analysis confirmed stent integrity and function.
• The stents effectively retained intestinal contents despite the induced defect.

Conclusions:

• 3D-printed PLA gastrointestinal stents are effective in preventing abdominal sepsis in a preclinical model.
• Personalized, implantable stents demonstrate potential for managing gastrointestinal defects without requiring removal.
• This technology shows promise for improving patient outcomes in cases of gastrointestinal perforation or fistulae.