title: A clinically relevant in vivo model for the assessment of scaffold efficacy in abdominal wall reconstruction.
abstract: An animal model that allows for assessment of the degree of stretching or contraction of the implant area and the in vivo degradation properties of biological meshes is required to evaluate their performance in vivo. Adult New Zealand rabbits underwent full thickness subtotal unilateral rectus abdominis muscle excision and were reconstructed with the non-biodegradable Peri-Guard®, Prolene®or biodegradable Surgisis®meshes. Following 8 weeks of recovery, the anterior abdominal wall tissue samples were collected for measurement of the implant dimensions. The Peri-Guard and Prolene meshes showed a slight and obvious shrinkage, respectively, whereas the Surgisis mesh showed stretching, resulting in hernia formation. Surgisis meshes showed in vivo biodegradation and increased collagen formation. This surgical rabbit model for abdominal wall defects is advantageous for evaluating the in vivo behaviour of surgical meshes. Implant area stretching and shrinkage were detected corresponding to mesh properties, and histological analysis and stereological methods supported these findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland; CÚRAM-Centre for Research in Medical Devices, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Jeffrey Cy
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Theme, Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK.
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Burugapalli
authors.affiliation: CÚRAM-Centre for Research in Medical Devices, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Yi-Shiang
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland; CÚRAM-Centre for Research in Medical Devices, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: CÚRAM-Centre for Research in Medical Devices, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Abhay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pandit
keywords: Animal model; abdominal wall reconstruction; biologic meshes; dimensional measurement; quantitative stereological analysis