Does a muscle flap accelerate wound healing of gastric wall defects compared with an omental flap?

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Most often used for reconstruction at superficial sites, a muscle flap recently was reported to promote clinical wound healing in a duodenal defect. We therefore examined whether a muscle flap could promote wound healing comparably to an omental flap in rats with gastric wall defects. METHODS: After perforation of the centre of the anterior gastric wall, rats were divided into 2 groups. In the muscle group, a muscle flap was fixed to the defect; in the omentum group, an omental flap was placed over the defect. We histopathologically compared tissue responses during gastric wall healing. RESULTS: While stratified villi had completely covered the defect by day 7 in both groups, scar maturation differed. Scar tissue persisted in the muscle group, but was gradually replaced by adipose tissue in the omentum group. DISCUSSION: Both muscle and omental flaps accelerated gastric wall wound healing. CONCLUSION: A muscle flap is an excellent alternative for repair of gastric defects when no omental flap is available.