title: Lung tissue flap repairs esophagus defection with an inner chitosan tube stent.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To repair the partial esophagus defect with a chitosan stent, a new esophageal prosthesis made of pulmonary tissue with vascular pedicle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen Japanese big ear white rabbits were divided into experimental group (n = 10) and control group (n = 5). Esophagus defect in rabbits of experimental group was repaired using lung tissue flap with a chitosan tube stent, gross and histological appearance was observed at week 2, 4 and 8 after operation, and barium sulphate X-ray screen was performed at week 10 after operation. Esophagus defect of rabbits in control group was repaired using lung tissue flap with no chitosan tube stent, gross and histological appearance was observed at week 2, 4 and 8 after operation, and barium sulphate X-ray screen was performed at week 10 after operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the experimental group, 6 rabbits survived for over two weeks, the lung tissue flap healed esophageal defection, and squamous metaplasia occurred on the surface of lung tissue flap. At week 10 after operation, barium sulphate examination found that barium was fluent through the esophagus with no stricture or back stream, the creeping was good. In the control group, 4 rabbits survived for two weeks, the lung tissue flap healed esophageal defection with fibrous tissue hyperplasia, barium sulphate examination found that barium was fluent through the esophagus with a slight stricture or back stream, and the creeping was not good at week 10 after operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Esophagus defect can be repaired using lung tissue flap with an inner chitosan tube stent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wen-Jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Shi