[Clinical study of a new expander with an agent delivery system and the effect of a chemical agent on tissue expansion].
OBJECTIVE
To search for a method to enhance tissue expansion.


METHODS
A new type of expander with an agent delivery system was used to expand soft tissue in 15 patients. During expansion Papaverine was delivered through the delivery system into the tissue around the expanders.


RESULTS
It took 26 days to expand to the anticipated volume in the new expansion method group (NEM) and 51 days in the general expansion method group (GEM) (P < 0.01). Before operation the NEM group was over-expanded by 92.4% while the GEM group was over-expanded by 27.12%. At full expansion the blood flow of the expanded area of the two groups was 1.27 (NEM) and 0.64 (GEM). The immediate skin retraction of the two groups was 20.17% (NEM) and 38.26% (GEM).


CONCLUSIONS
The new expansion method can accelerate expansion speed and improve the quality of expanded skin and flap.
Liu
W
W
Beijing Huangsi Aesthetic Surgery Hospital, Beijing 100011, China.
Yang
P
P
Man
Z
Z
D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D013806:Theophylline / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015626:Tissue Expansion / Q000379:methods*; D015625:Tissue Expansion Devices
D013806:Theophylline; C021183:1,7-dimethylxanthine