Microvascular transplantation of a free omental graft to the distal extremity in dogs.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the survival of a free omental graft applied to an experimentally created wound on the distal extremity in dogs.

STUDY DESIGN

A free omental graft was evaluated as a primary method of treatment for dogs with distal extremity wounds in an experimental model.

ANIMALS OR SAMPLE POPULATION

Five adult intact female mixed breed dogs weighing 21.8 kg to 25.0 kg.

METHODS

A free omental graft was harvested from the abdomen and transferred to a wound bed overlying the medial aspect of the tibia. A microvascular anastomosis was performed between the graft vessels and vessels at the recipient site. Daily clinical assessment of graft viability was performed. Angiography and 99mTechnetium labeled macroaggregated albumin (99mTc MAA) scintigraphic perfusion scans were performed on either day 4, 5, or 7. Postmortem collection of tissues for histopathologic analysis was performed immediately after imaging. Total operative time and graft ischemia time were evaluated for effects on graft survival.

RESULTS

Two of seven grafts survived to the end of the study, three of seven grafts failed because of ischemia, and two of seven grafts failed because of self-trauma. There was no clinically significant morbidity associated with the abdominal portion of the procedure. Because of the small number of surviving grafts, the effects of operative time and graft ischemia time could not be statistically evaluated.

CONCLUSIONS

Microvascular transplantation of a free omental graft can result in a viable tissue covering of a distal extremity wound, however, the failure rate is unacceptably high.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

A free omental graft may not have sufficient durability to be an acceptable wound covering by itself. Further studies combining omentum with a skin graft or other tissues may result in a clinically useful technique.