Collagen-coated Vicryl mesh: a new bioprosthesis in pediatric surgical practice.

Collagen-coated Vicryl mesh (C.C.V.M.) was used in 28 children who needed repair of thoracic and abdominal wall defects. Herein the authors report the clinical experience, surgical technique, and outcome in these cases.

Absorbable rings for pediatric valvuloplasty. Preliminary study.

Secondary valvular stenosis is a significant risk of annular ring implantation during valvular repair in children. To avoid this problem, we have developed an absorbable prosthetic ring (APR), which induces the generation of a biologic fibroelastic ring with mitotic capability and thereby allows atrioventricular annulus growth with age. Twelve polydioxanone (PDS) biodegradable APRs were surgically implanted in immature goats. To avoid possible embolic complications from ring fragments during the absorption period, APRs were covered with an extensible sewing sheath of high-porosity polyester, allowing contact between the PDS, blood, and endocardium. Four APRs were implanted into the right atrial cavity, four in the tricuspid position, and four in the mitral position. Histological studies at 6 months showed a considerable amount of remaining PDS. At 1 year, only small residual fragments of PDS were present, surrounded by collagen and elastic fibers as well as fibroblasts with mitotic activity. This histological structure represents a new biologic fibroelastic ring, which has originated from PDS rings. Echocardiography at 12 months showed that the elasticity of APRs and fibrotic tissue allows normal systolic and diastolic valve motions. These findings, which demonstrate histological changes in native valve annuli as well as stable and elastic annuloplasty without secondary stenosis in growing animals, call for new studies involving hearts with valvular disease.

[Value of the use of a vicryl-collagen tape for the treatment of cleft palate. Experimental study in dogs]. / Intérêt de l'utilisation d'un treillis de vicryl collagène dans le traitement des fentes palatines. Travail expérimental chez le chien.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bone forming capacity of a Vicryl/collagene tape, placed in a defect of the palatal bone. In order to decrease the rate of bucco-nasal fistulaes after primary closure of a cleft palate, the authors carried out an experiment on dogs. First of all, we had to demonstrate the good tolerance of the tape in the buccal cavity. The first group of 5 dogs redieved the tape between buccal mucosae and palatal bone. The tolerance was excellent concerning the 12 biopsies on the mucosae after 1 month; 10 were totally normal and 2 revealed signs of inflammation on the medial incision. Concerning the second group, we needed to know the delay of bone formation of a "neo-palatal" defect; for that reason a 2 cm2 bone resection and a histological observation after 1 month and 1,5 months, in the right palatal bone was performed. Then we performed the same resection in 5 other dogs, and let the vicryl tape in the defect before closing the mucosae. The histological results of the second group showed that the ossification began after 1 month, and after 1.5 months the defect was totally covered by bone. The good results we obtained led us to go on with this experiment even if the low number of dogs included in this series does not allow us to a statistical evaluation. Exact responsibility of both, vicryl and collagene, has to be determined by a longer experiment, before realising the device in child's cleft palate.

Experimental and clinical study of fast absorption cutaneous suture material.

Fast Absorption Vicryl was irradiated with gamma rays. The experimental study on 14 mice grafted with human skin showed a constant rupture of the sutures on the 12th day, with the development of a moderate macrophage reaction. Injection of isotonic saline around the suture material did not accelerate the process of resorption. The clinical study with 27 children operated on the limbs showed rupture of the sutures between the 12th and 16th days, without inflammatory reaction, infection or wound dehiscence. Simply wiping the wound with a compress removes the stitches painlessly. This is appreciated by the young subject and his or her family. Since we began to use FAV systematically we have not needed to conduct dressing under anesthesia. The long term results of healing (follow-up: 11.3 months) are similar to those obtained with conventional non-absorbable suture material. The tolerance, the rapid resorption, the comfort of the patient and the cost advantage make FAV the suture material of choice.

Surgical repair of the kidney after blunt lesions of intermediate degree using a Vicryl mesh: an experimental study.

Twelve experimentally induced blunt renal lesions in pigs were treated either with an alloplastic renal capsule made of semi-elastic Vicryl mesh or with homologous pig fibrin adhesive or with through-and-through chromic catgut sutures as controls. The Vicryl mesh capsule was made by the Ethnor Company (Paris, France) to our specifications. The postoperative isotope nephrograms, which were repeated until the Vicryl had been fully resorbed, showed good renal function in every case. However, when compared to the controls, the kidneys which had been repaired with Vicryl mesh contained considerably less scar tissue at the site of parenchymal rupture and showed neither perirenal fibrosis nor atrophy of the parenchyma in the vicinity of the capsule. Our preliminary results seem to confirm that simple and rapid surgical treatment of moderately severe blunt renal lesions is possible using the alloplastic Vicryl mesh capsule. The method may also be suitable for reconstruction of the parenchyma following multiple nephrotomies, such as for removal of staghorn calculus, and experimental investigations are under way to clarify this point.