THE OMENTUM-PEDICLED INTESTINAL SEGMENT - AN EXPERIMENTAL-MODEL FOR BOWEL LENGTHENING

Various experiments designed to increase the absorptive surface of the intestine to minimize dependence on total parenteral nutrition in sho rt-bowel syndromes have been challenged by the limitations of the vasc ular supply to the gut. We have investigated the feasibility of small- bowel lengthening in a rabbit model by creating a neo-mesentery for a segment of jejunum. In this method the serosa of the antimesenteric as pect of the jejunum is removed and a flap of omentum is attached to th is surface. Intestinal segments were separated from their original mes entery after 5, 6, and 7 weeks of omental revascularization and specim ens examined histologically 24 h after vascular division. Our data sup port the hypothesis that intestinal segments with both omental and mes enteric pedicles are viable and that the small bowel can be divided lo ngitudinally and remodelled for elongation with the vascular support o f the two distinct sources.