Improved viability of latissimus dorsi muscle grafts after electrical prestimulation.
Surgical mobilization of the latissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) produces fiber degeneration, particularly in the distal part of the graft, that may compromise its function in clinical applications such as dynamic cardiomyoplasty. In five rats, the left LDM was stimulated continuously at 10 HZ. After 5 weeks, vessels perforating the chest wall were divided and the left LDM was mobilized as a pedicle graft based on the thoracodorsal artery. Twenty-four hours later, animals were killed and left and right LDMs were incubated with the vital stain nitroblue tetrazolium. Five control rats underwent a similar procedure without prestimulation. Mobilization of the LDM resulted in a loss of viability in the distal third of the muscle graft. This was reduced significantly by prestimulation (P = 0.006). Blood flow to the distal LDM graft is known to be augmented by electrical stimulation in situ before mobilization; the present results show that there is an associated enhancement of viability. The clinical implications of this finding are discussed.
Woo
Edwin B C
EBC
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom.|Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Liverpool, Sherrington Building, Ashton Street, Liverpool L69 3GE, United Kingdom.
Tang
Augustine T M
ATM
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, United Kingdom.
Jarvis
Jonathan C
JC
Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Liverpool, Sherrington Building, Ashton Street, Liverpool L69 3GE, United Kingdom.
Hasleton
Philip S
PS
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Salmons
Stanley
S
Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Liverpool, Sherrington Building, Ashton Street, Liverpool L69 3GE, United Kingdom.
Hooper
Timothy L
TL
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom.
D000818:Animals; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D006085:Graft Survival; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium; D011300:Preoperative Care; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012782:Shoulder; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium