Histologic Change of Free Muscle Graft in the Rabbit Pleural Space

토끼에서 늑막강내 자유근육이식의 조직학적 변화: 술후 공기누출방지를 위한 자유근육이식술의 예비실험

Excision of bullous emphysema or decortication of chronic empyema commonly results in a prolonged air leakage. Prolonged air leakage requires prolonged intercostal drainage, delays recovery, and can be followed complications such as pneumothorax, atelectasis, incomplete expansion of remained lung, secondary infection. To minimize these complications free muscle grafts can be used like a patch to close the opening of visceral pleura and reinforce suture lines without undue tension. From a preliminary study using the latissimus dorsi muscle as a free muscle graft in the rabbit pleural space, viable muscle fibers that seems the result of the process of regeneration can be consistently identified around the degenerating muscle fibers. Voluminous connective tissues and numerous blood vessels are also observed in the peripheral zone. Further studies in that free muscle graft will be sutured with visceral pleura and lung parenchyme will hopefully provide additional information before clinical application.