Prefabrication of an axial bio-synthetic flap for circumferential tracheal defect reconstruction.
The aim of this study was to prefabricate an axial bio-synthetic flap for reconstruction of circumferential tracheal defects in a rabbit model. Two series of experiments were performed. In the first set of experiments axial island bio-synthetic flaps were prefabricated. These consisted of an inner island de-epithelialised fasciocutaneous flap from a rabbit's ear and an outer polytetrafluoroethylene vascular graft. The flaps were buried at the base of the rabbit's ear for periods of 1, 2 and 3 weeks (groups A, B and C, respectively), 10 flaps per group. Only one flap in group C failed to survive. Clinical and histological assessment, at the completion of each time period, showed that only the viable flaps of group C developed all the characteristics needed for a tracheal substitute. In the second set of experiments the prefabricated bio-synthetic flaps were transferred to the rabbit's neck by means of microvascular anastomoses. Ten such free flaps were buried at the rabbit's neck for 3 weeks (group D). Eight of the flaps remained viable and all the viable flaps had characteristics similar to those of group C. These results demonstrate the feasibility of creating a prefabricated axial bio-synthetic flap (island or free), over a 3-week period, possessing the characteristics needed for a tracheal substitute in a rabbit model.
epartment of Plastic Surgery - Microsurgery and Burns Unit, General State Hospital 'G. Gennimatas', Athens, Greece.
E G
EG
Lykoudis
D A
DA
Tsoutsos
A E
AE
Papalois
K B
KB
Frangia
C N
CN
Stamatopoulos
J D
JD
Ioannovich
D000818:Animals; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D008297:Male; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011817:Rabbits; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013997:Time Factors; D014022:Tissue Survival; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*
D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene