title: Reconstructive surgery of the urethra: a pilot study in the rabbit on the use of hyaluronan benzyl ester (Hyaff-11) biodegradable grafts.
abstract: We investigated the outcome of reconstructive surgery of the urethra through guides composed of a novel biodegradable and highly biocompatible polymer, Hyaff-11. A tract of about 1.5 cm of the rabbit pendulous urethra was totally resected and replaced by a Hyaff-11 tubular graft. Eleven animals were analysed at each of the time points ranging from 7 days to 4 weeks following surgery. Histological and radiological evaluation showed a satisfactory remodelling of the neo-urethra around the implant. The regenerated connective tissue connected both urethral stumps within the first 7 days. On postoperative week 3, the Hyaff-11 guide had disappeared. At the 4-week time point the retrograde urethrogram showed a good distensibility of the neourethra. The regenerated stroma consisted of fibroblastic cells, and collagenous and elastic fibres. The neo-epithelium was pluristratified and exhibited cells of the cuboidal type.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Urology, University of Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Italiano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abatangelo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calabrò
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abatangelo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zanoni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Regan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Passerini Glazel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011817:Rabbits; D012038:Regeneration; D013997:Time Factors; D014521:Urethra / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C086358:hyaluronic acid benzyl ester; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid