Experimental Study of an Artificial Esophagus Using a Collagen-sponge and a Split Thickness Skin -A Study of the Inhibitory Effect of the Grafted Skin Contraction-

Motoko Saito, Takashi Sakamoto, Masao Fujimaki, Motohiro Nozaki*

Second Department of Surgery, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University
*Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Tokyo Women's Medical College

Reconstruction after resection of the esophagus requires the use of digestive organs such as stomach, jejunum or colon. To avoid this sacrifice of the GI tract, many attempts to create an artificial esophagus have been reported. However, anastomotic leakage and stenosis remain major problems. To overcome these problems, we developed a new type of artificial esophagus using an artificial dermis (AD), a lattisimus dorsi muscle flap and a split-thickness skin graft (STSG) in rabbits (AD group). In this study, the effect of AD in preventing contraction was examined, by comparing the AD group with an STSG only group (STSG group). In the AD group, histological examination revealed a thick pseudodermis between the STSG and the muscle, which was similar to a full-thickness skin. The reconstruction rates in the AD group and STSG group were 43.4±4.1% and 61.0±10.2% respectively. The regular arrangement of collagen fibers in the pseudodermis inhibited contraction of the grafted skin. These findings suggest that the AD may be useful in creating a more suitable hybrid artificial esophagus.

Key words
artificial esophagus, artificial dermis, collagen sponge, contraction rate

Reprint requests
Motoko Saito Second Department of Surgery, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University
2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-01 JAPAN

Accepted
November 13, 1996

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