Several graft materials are available for use in the treatment of urethral stricture disease. Placental membrane is being used in a variety of settings as a graft in wound healing and tissue repair. We aim to evaluate the effect of implanting decellularized human placental membrane into rabbit urethras.
Dorsal onlay graft urethroplasty using prepared human placental membrane was performed in 10 New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). After 3 months, the rabbits underwent cystourethroscopy to evaluate urethral patency. The rabbits were then euthanized and the urethras examined for pathological findings.
All urethroplasties were performed without complication. There were no observed episodes of urinary retention, infection, or renal failure. Urethral patency was achieved in all rabbits 3 months postoperatively. Urothelial replacement of the placental membrane graft was observed in all rabbits without malignant transformation.
Dorsal onlay urethroplasty using decellularized human placental membrane can safely be performed in a rabbit model. This pilot study demonstrated urothelial replacement of human placental membrane in the rabbit urethra without stricture formation. Placental membrane is a promising biomaterial for urethral reconstruction.
World journal of urology. 2019 Jun 14 [Epub ahead of print]
Chad R Pusateri, Alexander D Doudt, Steven Gauerke, Kurt McCammon, Xiaofei Qin, Britini Ork, Joseph M Khoury, Anthony D May, Jack M Zuckerman
Department of Urology, Naval Medical Center San Diego, 34800 Bob Wilson Drive, San Diego, CA, 32134, USA., Department of Urology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 225 Clearfield Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA, 23462, USA., LifeNet Health®, 1864 Concert Drive, Virginia Beach, VA, 23453, USA., Division of Animal Resources, Naval Medical Center San Diego, 34800 Bob Wilson Drive, San Diego, CA, 32134, USA., Department of Urology, Naval Medical Center San Diego, 34800 Bob Wilson Drive, San Diego, CA, 32134, USA. .