Expansion of mucosal surface by intestinal patching in experimental cases of short bowel.

Young female beagles underwent either 85% resection of the small intestine; simultaneous 85% resection and patching of incised ideal remnant with colon serosa or with muscularis propria from transposed colon; or muscularis propria patching of ileum without resection of the small intestine. Patch areas were created in antiperistaltic position of participating bowel loops. After 20 weeks 50% of serosal patch and 34% of muscularis propria patch were overgrown by neomucosa. After 40 weeks 75% of the serosal patch was covered by neomucosa. Serosal patch area at necropsy 20 weeks after 85% resection of small intestine was 60% of the initial size; muscularis propria patch showed 44% of its primary area, but was only 12% of the initial surface area without bowel resection. Increases in resorptive surface consisted of neomucosa and an impressive adaptive elongation of short bowel, that was intensified by the simultaneous growth of the neomucosa.