Léonardo Gucciardo1, Yves Ozog2, Silvia Rusconi3, Rik Lories4, Leon O Damink5, Jan Deprest6. 1. Department of Development and Regeneration, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Engineering Research Center, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: leonardo.guccciardo@chu-brugmann.be. 2. Department of Development and Regeneration, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. 3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Engineering Research Center, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. 4. Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. 5. Matricel GmbH, Herzogenrath, Germany. 6. Department of Development and Regeneration, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Engineering Research Center, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: jan.deprest@uz.kuleuven.be.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Large congenital diaphragmatic hernia may require prosthetic correction. Acellular collagen matrices were introduced to avoid complications owing to the use of synthetic patches. We tested 3 different ACM for reconstruction of an abdominal wall defect in an animal model that mimics the fast growth during infancy. METHODS: Pelvisoft® (CR Bard, Covington, GA) and 2 investigational ACM were used for primary reconstruction of a full thickness abdominal wall defect. 3months-old rats (n=26) were allowed to survive for 90days after implantation. Anatomical, tensiometric and histological analyses were performed. Based on good outcomes, we did the same with 1month-old rats (n=54). Unoperated rats were used for obtaining reference tensiometric values of selected native tissues. RESULTS: Major wound complications were exclusively observed in 1month-old rats. All explants in both groups thinned significantly (p<0.03) and had an elastic modulus increasing over time, far above that from native tissues at 90days of life. Both investigational ACM induced a more vigorous foreign body reaction than Pelvisoft(®). CONCLUSIONS: The shift from 3 to 1month-old rats was associated with wound complications. Pelvisoft® showed a better biocompatibility than the 2 investigational ACM. Passive biomechanical properties of all explants were still not comparable to that of native tissues.
BACKGROUND: Large congenital diaphragmatic hernia may require prosthetic correction. Acellular collagen matrices were introduced to avoid complications owing to the use of synthetic patches. We tested 3 different ACM for reconstruction of an abdominal wall defect in an animal model that mimics the fast growth during infancy. METHODS: Pelvisoft® (CR Bard, Covington, GA) and 2 investigational ACM were used for primary reconstruction of a full thickness abdominal wall defect. 3months-old rats (n=26) were allowed to survive for 90days after implantation. Anatomical, tensiometric and histological analyses were performed. Based on good outcomes, we did the same with 1month-old rats (n=54). Unoperated rats were used for obtaining reference tensiometric values of selected native tissues. RESULTS: Major wound complications were exclusively observed in 1month-old rats. All explants in both groups thinned significantly (p<0.03) and had an elastic modulus increasing over time, far above that from native tissues at 90days of life. Both investigational ACM induced a more vigorous foreign body reaction than Pelvisoft(®). CONCLUSIONS: The shift from 3 to 1month-old rats was associated with wound complications. Pelvisoft® showed a better biocompatibility than the 2 investigational ACM. Passive biomechanical properties of all explants were still not comparable to that of native tissues.