Preventive role of biodegradable pancreatobiliary stents

Biodegradable stents (BDS) are optimal for the prevention of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis and for the management of benign biliary leaks, where the clinical problem resolves within the device's degradation window and the mandatory retrieval procedure required by conventional plastic stents becomes unnecessary; for postoperative pancreatic fistula, BDS use is currently justified only within clinical trials targeting high-risk patients, and routine implantation for primary sclerosing cholangitis is not advisable under present evidence.Conventional plastic pancreatobiliary stents provide effective short-term drainage but require follow-up imaging and, frequently, a second endoscopic procedure for removal -a burden that limits uptake of otherwise guideline-endorsed therapy.BDS dissolve in situ by hydrolysis, providing temporary ductal support without retrieval.We conducted a structured search of four databases and appraised the certainty of evidence for four indications using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework.Evidence is most mature for pancreatic prophylaxis and supportive for bile leaks; evidence for pancreatic fistula and sclerosing cholangitis remains preliminary.With regulatory clearance now achieved, the field is positioned for definitive randomized comparisons.