Dacron patch for closure of experimental stomach defects

Abstract

A Dacron patch was used to close acute defects of the stomach in rabbits. No deaths were directly attributed to the procedure. The patch was completely covered by new growth of tissue within 6 weeks. In the sixth postoperative month some evidence of rejection of the prosthetic material was present and 1½ years after the operation the patch was found in granulation tissue near the stomach. From this study it was concluded that this new technique is simple, can be performed safely and offers satisfactory results. Moreover, these experiments seem to indicate that this method may have clinical applications in the treatment of gastrointestinal fistulas in carefully selected cases.