Abdominal Wall Transplant Surgery

Exp Clin Transplant. 2018 Dec;16(6):745-750. doi: 10.6002/ect.2018.0189. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Abstract

The evolution and success of intestinal and multi-visceral transplantation over the past 20 years have raised the issue of difficult or even impossible abdominal closure, a topic rarely encountered in other fields of transplantation. Different techniques have been proposed to address this topic. The choice depends on the transplant team's expertise and/or the availability of a plastic surgery service. Abdominal wall transplant is a type of composite tissue allograft that can be utilized to reconstitute the abdominal domains of patients who undergo intestinal transplant, and the results are encouraging. It is an effective option to achieve primary abdominal closure after intestinal transplant. In its full-thickness form, it may be useful for monitoring rejection or viability of visceral organs. Our aim is to review the role of abdominal wall transplant in achieving tension-free closure of the abdomen.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Wall / blood supply
  • Abdominal Wall / surgery*
  • Composite Tissue Allografts / blood supply
  • Composite Tissue Allografts / immunology
  • Composite Tissue Allografts / surgery*
  • Graft Rejection / immunology
  • Graft Rejection / prevention & control
  • Graft Survival / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / administration & dosage
  • Intestines / transplantation*
  • Organ Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Organ Transplantation / methods*
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation / adverse effects
  • Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation / methods*
  • Wound Closure Techniques* / adverse effects

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents