Black necrotic oesophagus following the use of biodegradable stent for benign oesophageal stricture

Biodegradable stents are increasingly being used for benign oesophageal conditions that include refractory strictures and perforations. Acute oesophageal necrosis has been reported with various other conditions but none due to the insertion of biodegradable stents. A 58-year-old male presented as an acute emergency in severe haemodynamic shock. Investigations confirmed an oesophageal perforation. He underwent an emergency surgical intervention that identified extensive necrosis of the oesophagus requiring thoracic oesophagectomy, cervical oesophagostomy and a feeding jejunostomy as a damage control procedure. This was followed a month later, by successful reconstruction using a gastric conduit. This is the first reported case of a necrosis of the oesophagus following insertion of two biodegradable stents for a benign oesophageal stricture and highlights this rare but very serious life-threatening complication.