Experimental study using PTFE (Goretex) patches for replacement of the oesophageal wall

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate tolerance and integration of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene patches used to replace loss of a fragment of the complete oesophageal wall in rats of the Wistar strain. METHODS: The experiment was performed on 10 Wistar rats. Those surviving the experiment were killed 7-28 days after surgery. RESULTS: None of these animals showed signs of peritonitis. The patch was not visible macroscopically. After examination under the microscope, we observed that the material had undergone phagocytosis by macrophages, and there was scar tissue covering the epithelium. CONCLUSION: It is possible to successfully suture a polytetrafluoroethylene patch to the oesophageal wall in Wistar rats as a prosthetic replacement of a wall fragment.