Omentum pediculed musculo-peritoneal flap (OPMP) for growing intestinal neomucosa in a rat model.
OBJECTIVE
To construct a musculo-peritoneal flap adequately vascularised through attached omentum and to evaluate whether this flap is functional for growing new intestinal mucosa.


METHODS
24 rats underwent two surgical procedures. 1) A musculo-peritoneal flap was prepared, omentum was fixed onto the muscular side and a silicon graft was placed on the peritoneal side. 2) After one month the so constructed OPMP flap was mobilised and attached to the jejunum. Animals were harvested at 2, 4 and 8 months for macroscopic and microscopic evaluation.


RESULTS
One rat died at 7 months due to intestinal volvulus. In the remainder the circumference of the patched intestine significantly increased compared to that of normal intestine (p<0.001). The flaps were markedly contracted in the 4 month rats (p<0.01). All flaps were completely covered by neomucosa except in the 2 month rats. Crypt depth and crypt density of the neomucosa was significantly lower in 2 month rats compared to other groups (p<0.05). Similarly neomucosal villous height was markedly low in the 2 month rats (p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
To date, we have found no reports of small bowel patching using this technique. In this context, use of OPMP flap is likely to be useful for increasing intestinal surface area.
Aslan
Adnan
A
Department of Paediatric Surgery, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey. adnanaslan@akdeniz.edu.tr
Boneval
Cem
C
Elpek
Ozlem
O
Gelen
Tekinalp
T
Melikoglu
Mustafa
M
D000818:Animals; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D007422:Intestines / Q000601:surgery; D023421:Models, Animal; D009852:Omentum; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D051381:Rats; D013524:Surgical Flaps