The structure of a biomaterial rather than its chemical composition modulates the repair process at the peritoneal level.
BACKGROUND
This study was designed to establish whether the spatial structure of a prosthesis conditions its behavior at the peritoneal level.


METHODS
Abdominal defects comprising all the wall (except skin) were created in rabbits and repaired with a laminar (DM) or reticular (CV-4) ePTFE-prosthesis. Fourteen days postimplant, specimens were obtained for scanning electron and light microscopy. Peritoneal adhesions, resistance to traction, and neoperitoneum thickness were quantified.


RESULTS
Adhesions to CV-4 were firm and integrated within surrounding tissue; only scarce adhesion formation was observed for DM. Adhesion area was significantly greater (P <0.01) in the CV-4 than in DM (7.00 +/- 2.6; 0.15 +/- 0.08 cm(2)). The neoperitoneum was organized for DM and disorganized for CV-4. This layer was significantly thicker (P <0.05) in DM than CV-4 (455 +/- 3.4; 70 +/- 3.1 microm). The CV-4 showed a greater resistance to traction than the DM (26.75 +/- 3.71; 14.11 +/- 3.71 N; P <0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The structure of a biomaterial, rather than its chemical composition, modulates behavior at the peritoneal interface.
Bellón
Juan M
JM
Department of Morphological Sciences and Surgery (Surgical Research Laboratory), Faculty of Medicine, University of Alcalá, Crta. Madrid-Barcelona, km 33.6, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain. juanm.bellon@uah.es
Jurado
Francisca
F
García-Honduvilla
Natalio
N
López
Raquel
R
Carrera-San Martín
Antonio
A
Buján
Julia
J
D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011336:Probability; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
D001672:Biocompatible Materials