(P 336) Regeneration of Abdominal Wall Musculofascial Defect by a Human Acellular Collagen Matrix

Purpose: This work studied the reconstruction of abdominal wall defect by a "human acellular collagen matrix". Methods: Fascia lata from human tissue donors (63 plus or minus 25 yrs old, n = 4) were chemically/physically treated to reduce the immuno-genicity and risk of conventional and non-conventional agents transmission. Abdominal wall defect was cured, on 40 rats, by implantation of (i) polypropylene (Pro)/ (ii) polyester (Mers) meshes and (iii) human acellular collagen matrix with 2 orientations: fibres in parrallel (FLL) or perpendicular (FLT) to native rats abdominal wall. Hernia recurrence, adhesions and histology for inflammation (lymphocyte, CD3/macrophages, CD68) and remodelling (Masson's Trichrom and dystrophin staining) were assessed at 4 and 8 weeks post-implantation. Two large abdominal even-trations were cured by human acellular matrix in human patients. Results: A higher hernia recurrence rate was observed for rats transplanted with FLL in comparison to FLT/Pro/Mers after 4 and 8 weeks post-implantation. A lower intestinal adhesions rate was obtained for FLL/FLT than Pro/Mers meshes (50% of adhesion coverage area at 8 weeks). Conclusion: Human acellular collagen matrix, placed in FLT position, can induced an abdominal wall reconstitution without adhesions and hernia recurrence.