SUCCESSFUL PATCHING AND INCORPORATION OF LYOPHILIZED DURA-MATER (LYODURA) IN THE DISTAL SMALL-BOWEL WALL - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY

Lyophilized dura mater (Lyodura) was used successfully in patching def ects in the antimesenteric side of the distal small bowel of rats, gui nea pigs, and dogs. Excellent healing was observed. The Lyodura was co mpletely incorporated and had disappeared after 6 weeks; single-layer cuboidal epithelium was evident at this stage. Well-formed villi were present at 12 weeks. All layers of the intestinal wall were present 1 year following patching. Although the use of Lyodura has been consider ed contra-indicated in contaminated surgical procedures, we conclude f rom this study that it can be used safely in the intestinal tract of l aboratory animals. Its efficacy as a substrate for growing neomucosa i n the intestinal tract was evident. The potential use of this method i n experimental short-bowel syndrome should be further explored.