Bladder augmentation after radical resection using porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS): first results of the clinical application as a xenograftin the dog and cat

We report the successful clinical application of small intestinal submucosa , a new biologic material for surgical implantation. The material is used a s a xenograft and contains collagen, growths factors, proteoglykanes, and g lykoproteins. It serves as a kind of scaffold for tissue remodelling and re construction. This material was used successfully for augmentation of the u rinary bladder in a dog and a cat after radical surgical resection of bladd er wall due to trauma and neoplasia, respectively. Primary closure of the r emaining bladder wall with maintenance of at least some reservoir function would not have been possible in these patients. The dry-frozen small intest inal submucosa was rehydrated, then sutured to the bladder tissue by simple interrupted sutures and watertight closure was achieved immediately. The a nimals were urinating by themselves in between a few days and were continen t after 3 weeks. Frequency of micturition in the dog was close to normal af ter 3 months and was acceptable in the cat. Follow-up examinations such as contrast radiography, ultrasonography and cysto-urethroscopy revealed compl ete resorption of the material with regeneration of fully functional bladde r tissue.