A Study of Urethroplasty with Autogenous Vein Graft in the Rabbits.
- Author:
Jun Young LEE
1
;
Ki Hak MOON
;
Jea Ho JEONG
Author Information
1. Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Taegu, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Urethra;
Reconstruction;
Surgery
- MeSH:
Constriction, Pathologic;
Epithelium;
Fistula;
Free Tissue Flaps;
Hair;
Phenobarbital;
Rabbits*;
Skin;
Transplants*;
Urethra;
Urinary Bladder;
Veins*
- From:Korean Journal of Urology
1999;40(10):1360-1366
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: There are several methods for the reconstruction of partial urethral defect. Split-thickness skin graft, full-thickness skin graft, prepuce flap and free flap are those. Despite partial success using these methods, most results are unsatisfactory due to frequent complications such as postoperative infection, fistula formation, hair growth and stricture. There has been several pioneering experiments in this field using autogenous vein graft, but the results of this procedures were controversial. Therefore, this study was designed to illustrate the possibility of using vein graft for the reconstruction of partial urethral defect. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two different types of vein graft method were performed in total 20 New Zealand White rabbits with partial urethral defect. Firstly, for the patch graft group, 1x cm rectangular vein graft was sutured at defective area of the same size. Secondly, for the tubed graft group, vein graft segment of 1 cm long was replaced at segmental urethral defect of the same length. Histologic study was performed at 3 and 8 weeks postoperatively in each group. And retrograde urethrogram was checked at eight weeks postoperatively. RESULTS: On histologic study, the process of transitional cell epithelial replacement within grafted vein was uniformly observed in both experimental group at three week postoperatively. At eight weeks postoperatively, the epithelial replacement was almost complete and histologically undistinguishable. In the retrograde urethrogram performed on the day of the 8th week postoperatively, in patch graft group, contrast material was well advanced to the bladder and showed no stricture, and two of five rabbits of tubed graft group showed mild stricture with luminal patency at the graft site. CONCLUSIONS: Natural urethral epithelium was restored in grafted venous segment irrespective of type of graft. Mild stricture was observed in 40% of tubed graft group while complete reconstruction was possible in patch graft group.
