Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2025
In Vivo Multimodal Imaging and Analysis of Mouse Laser-Induced Choroidal Neovascularization Model
Published on: January 21, 2018
Multilevel Analysis of the Neovascularization and Integration Process of a Nonvascularized Rectus Fascia
Ewout Muylle1,2,3, Arne Maes4,5,6, Gert De Hertogh1,7,8
1Leuven Intestinal Failure and Transplantation (LIFT) Center, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Background:
Failure to close the abdominal wall after intestinal transplantation (ITx) or multivisceral Tx remains a surgical challenge. An attractive method is the use of nonvascularized rectus fascia (NVRF) in which both layers of the donor abdominal rectus fascia are used as an inlay patch without vascular anastomosis. How this graft integrates over time remains unknown. The study aims to provide a multilevel analysis of the neovascularization and integration process of the NVRF.
Methods:
Three NVRF-Tx were performed after ITx. Clinical, radiological, histological, and immunological data were analyzed to get insights into the neovascularization and integration process of the NVRF. Moreover, cryogenic contrast-enhanced microfocus computed tomography (microCT) analysis was used for detailed reconstruction of the vasculature in and around the NVRF (3-dimensional histology).
Results:
Two men (31- and 51-y-old) and 1 woman (49-y-old) underwent 2 multivisceral Tx and 1 combined liver-ITx, respectively. A CT scan showed contrast enhancement around the fascia graft at 5 days post-Tx. At 6 weeks, newly formed blood vessels were visualized around the graft with Doppler ultrasound. Biopsies at 2 weeks post-Tx revealed inflammation around the NVRF and early fibrosis. At 6 months, classical 2-dimensional histological analysis of a biopsy confirmed integration of the fascia graft with strong fibrotic reaction without signs of rejection. A cryogenic contrast-enhanced microCT scan of the same biopsy revealed the presence of microvasculature, enveloping and penetrating the donor fascia.
Conclusions:
We showed clinical, histological, and microCT evidence of the neovascularization and integration process of the NVRF after Tx.
