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Muylle E, Maes A, De Hertogh G, Van De Winkel N, Kerckhofs G, Dubois A, Vandecaveye V, Thorrez L, Hennion I, Emonds MP, Pans S, Deferm NP, Monbaliu D, Canovai E, Vanuytsel T, Pirenne J, Ceulemans LJ. Multilevel Analysis of the Neovascularization and Integration Process of a Nonvascularized Rectus Fascia Transplantation. Transplant Direct 2024; 10:e1624. [PMID: 38757048 PMCID: PMC11098214 DOI: 10.1097/txd.0000000000001624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Failure to close the abdominal wall after intestinal transplantation (ITx) or multivisceral Tx remains a surgical challenge. An attractive method is the use of nonvascularized rectus fascia (NVRF) in which both layers of the donor abdominal rectus fascia are used as an inlay patch without vascular anastomosis. How this graft integrates over time remains unknown. The study aims to provide a multilevel analysis of the neovascularization and integration process of the NVRF. Methods Three NVRF-Tx were performed after ITx. Clinical, radiological, histological, and immunological data were analyzed to get insights into the neovascularization and integration process of the NVRF. Moreover, cryogenic contrast-enhanced microfocus computed tomography (microCT) analysis was used for detailed reconstruction of the vasculature in and around the NVRF (3-dimensional histology). Results Two men (31- and 51-y-old) and 1 woman (49-y-old) underwent 2 multivisceral Tx and 1 combined liver-ITx, respectively. A CT scan showed contrast enhancement around the fascia graft at 5 days post-Tx. At 6 weeks, newly formed blood vessels were visualized around the graft with Doppler ultrasound. Biopsies at 2 weeks post-Tx revealed inflammation around the NVRF and early fibrosis. At 6 months, classical 2-dimensional histological analysis of a biopsy confirmed integration of the fascia graft with strong fibrotic reaction without signs of rejection. A cryogenic contrast-enhanced microCT scan of the same biopsy revealed the presence of microvasculature, enveloping and penetrating the donor fascia. Conclusions We showed clinical, histological, and microCT evidence of the neovascularization and integration process of the NVRF after Tx.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewout Muylle
- Leuven Intestinal Failure and Transplantation (LIFT) Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Abdominal Transplant Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (BREATHE), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Arne Maes
- Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Biomechanics Lab, Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Pole of Morphology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gert De Hertogh
- Leuven Intestinal Failure and Transplantation (LIFT) Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Unit of Translational Cell- and Tissue Research, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nele Van De Winkel
- Leuven Intestinal Failure and Transplantation (LIFT) Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Unit of Urogenital, Abdominal and Plastic Surgery, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Greet Kerckhofs
- Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Biomechanics Lab, Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Pole of Morphology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
- Prometheus Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Antoine Dubois
- Leuven Intestinal Failure and Transplantation (LIFT) Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Abdominal Transplant Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vincent Vandecaveye
- Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Translational MRI Unit, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieven Thorrez
- Tissue Engineering Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, KULAK campus Kortrijk, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Ina Hennion
- Tissue Engineering Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, KULAK campus Kortrijk, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Marie-Paule Emonds
- Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Laboratory, Belgian Red Cross-Flanders, Mechelen, Belgium
| | - Steven Pans
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, Sint-Franciscusziekenhuis, Heusden-Zolder, Belgium
| | - Nathalie P. Deferm
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, Sint-Franciscusziekenhuis, Heusden-Zolder, Belgium
| | - Diethard Monbaliu
- Leuven Intestinal Failure and Transplantation (LIFT) Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Abdominal Transplant Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Emilio Canovai
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Tim Vanuytsel
- Leuven Intestinal Failure and Transplantation (LIFT) Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jacques Pirenne
- Leuven Intestinal Failure and Transplantation (LIFT) Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Abdominal Transplant Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laurens J. Ceulemans
- Leuven Intestinal Failure and Transplantation (LIFT) Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (BREATHE), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Janssen Y, Van De Winkel N, Pirenne J, Ceulemans LJ, Miserez M. Allotransplantation of donor rectus fascia for abdominal wall closure in transplant patients: A systematic review. Transplant Rev (Orlando) 2021; 35:100634. [PMID: 34147948 DOI: 10.1016/j.trre.2021.100634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Abdominal wall closure after intestinal, multivisceral or liver transplantation can be a major challenge. Different surgical techniques have been described to close complex abdominal wall defects, but results remain variable. Two promising transplant techniques have been developed using either non-vascularized or vascularized donor rectus fascia. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of the two techniques. METHODS A systematic review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Human studies published between January 2000 and April 2020 were included. Methodological quality appraisal was done using an adapted 10-item standardized checklist. RESULTS The search resulted in 9 articles including 74 patients. Both techniques proved to be feasible and had similar results. After non-vascularized rectus fascia allotransplantation, there was a slightly higher rate of surgical site infections in the earlier reports. Overall, there were few complications, no fascial graft related rejections or deaths. The included articles scored low on quality appraisal, mostly due to the small number of cases and scarcely reported outcome parameters. CONCLUSIONS This systematic literature review reports two emerging new techniques for complex abdominal wall closure in transplant patients, with promising results. Standardized data collection in a prospective manner could give us more detailed information about short- and long-term outcomes. Preclinical animal studies are necessary for a thorough investigation of the mechanisms of graft integration, the risk of hernia development and the alloimmune response against the graft.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yveline Janssen
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Jacques Pirenne
- Leuven Intestinal Failure and Transplantation (LIFT), Department of Abdominal Transplant Surgery, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, University Hospitals Leuven, KU, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laurens J Ceulemans
- Leuven Intestinal Failure and Transplantation (LIFT), Department of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, research consortium BREATHE, University Hospitals Leuven, KU, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marc Miserez
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium
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