Experimental bladder substitution using biodegradable graft of natural tissue.

A controlled experimental study has been performed using a biodegradable graft of natural tissue to achieve vesical augmentation. The graft is progressively reabsorbed while normal capacity is maintained by concomitant regeneration of the layers of the bladder remnant. No significant complications were encountered, and the graft was equally successful when applied either to a histologically normal bladder or to a pathologic bladder of intramural fibrosis. This material is potentially ideal for clinical bladder substitution in humans.