title: Esophageal reconstruction: Combined application of muscle tissue flap and inner chitosan tube stent in rabbits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Esophageal reconstruction is the key issue in esophageal surgery. However, currently there is no satisfied technique to repair esophagus after surgery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To combine an inner chitosan stent and a muscle tissue with vascular pedicle to repair the esophageal defect in cervical segment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Esophageal defect was repaired using the combination of a muscle tissue flap and a chitosan tube stent in experimental group while only muscle tissue flap was utilized in controls for comparison. One animal in each group was sacrificed at week 3, 6 and 9 after operation respectively to exam the healing status. Barium X-ray was used to evaluate the esophageal status in 12 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histology showed the inflammatory response in 3 weeks after surgery, the chitosan stent was partially absorbed in 6 weeks, and there was no obvious fibrotic proliferation in experimental group; while the fibrotic proliferation and esophageal stenosis were obvious in controls, the chitosan stent was completely absorbed in 9 weeks, and squamous epidermis cells were observed. Twelve weeks later, the barium swallow went smoothly through the esophagus with noticeable peristalsis in the experimental group; esophageal stenosis without peristalsis was observed in controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of chitosan stent and muscle tissue flap is feasible to reconstruct a partial defect in esophagus.
authors.forename: Jiabao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xinyuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhen
authors.forename: Yuguo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Zhanbo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D048271:Chitosan; D004947:Esophagus / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011817:Rabbits; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D015607:Stents; D013524:Surgical Flaps
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Chitosan; esophagus defect; esophagus reconstruction; muscle flap; stent