LAPAROSCOPIC INTRACORPOREAL HARVEST OF JEJUNAL TISSUE FOR AUTOLOGOUS TRANSPLANTATION

Our goal in this study was to assess the feasibility and safety Of per forming an intracorporeal laparoscopic jejunal harvest. The initial te chnique was developed and refined in a pig and then a dog model. In th e animal studies, careful dissection of the jejunal flap with its feed ing vessel was accomplished along with an intracorporeal anastomosis. The laparoscopic dissection was facilitated by temporarily anchoring t he jejunal flap to the anterior abdominal wall and transilluminating t he mesentery. We present the first case report of a patient who underw ent a laparoscopic jejunal harvest, intracorporeal small bowel anastom osis, and a microvascular anastomosis in the neck for reconstruction o f the laryngopharynx.