Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Endoscopy Unit is celebrating being the first team in Surrey to use a biodegradable stent in a patient with a post-surgical bile leak, negating the need for them to return for further surgery to remove the stent.
Until now, patients have had to return for a second Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedure to remove the stents, which are small tubes (made of plastic or metal) used to treat blockages in the bile or pancreatic ducts. These are often inserted during an ERCP to relieve symptoms like jaundice and digestive discomfort. Biodegradable stents are made from materials that the body naturally absorbs.
Mr Neville Menezes, Consultant Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgeon, placed the first Biodegradable Biliary and Pancreatic Stent during surgery earlier this month. He said: “This is an exciting achievement for the team and the trust. Using these biodegradable stents for suitable patients means we can improve their experience by saving them having to return for a repeat surgery. It also avoids the possible complications that arise when using traditional stents, leading to improved outcomes for those having the surgery.”
Mark Roland, Chief Medical Officer, added: “Exciting innovations like this are key to improving patient experience. Saving a patient an unnecessary procedure also allows the team to treat other patients sooner, meaning they receive the treatment they need as quickly as possible.”
Pictured above: The Endoscopy Team
