[Morphological findings on free intestinal muscle transplants as sphincter replacement]

Using autotransplants of an autonomous intestinal muscle segment a sphincter substitute and consequently a continent colostomy can be produced in humans and dogs. The histological study of the intestinal muscle section resected 1--28 weeks after implantation shows, in dogs, a good healing process and vascularization of the transplant muscle, which explains the clinical success. Even after many weeks only slight atrophy and fibrosis can be observed. Only a few of the intramural nerve plexuses perish. Some of the small intestine sphincters remain incontinent. The specimens show a more or less extensive hemorrhagic necrosis of the transplant with high inflammation. The reason for these complications is thought to be the mucosa glands, which were not completely removed from the vulnerable small intestine of the dog before the transplantation.