title: Acellular matrix in urethral reconstruction.
abstract: The treatment of severe urethral stenosis has always been a challenge even for skilled urologists. Classic urethroplasty, skin flaps and buccal mucosa grafting may not be used for long and complex strictures. In the quest for an ideal urethral substitute, acellular scaffolds have demonstrated the ability to induce tissue regeneration layer by layer. After several experimental studies, the use of acellular matrices for urethral reconstruction has become a clinical reality over the last decade. In this review we analyze advantages and limitations of both biological and polymeric scaffolds that have been reported in experimental and human studies. Important aspects such as graft extension, surgical technique and cell-seeding versus cell-free grafts will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: leopoldofilho@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Leopoldo Alves
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ribeiro-Filho
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Karl-Dietrich
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Sievert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014525:Urethral Stricture / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials
keywords: Graft; Regeneration; Scaffold; Tissue engineering; Urethroplasty