Free omental graft on the healing of experimental wounds in rabbits
extraperitoneal omentalization; repair; rabbits
Healing is the combination of physical, chemical and cellular events that begins after tissue trauma, and consists of a continuous chain of phases (inflammation, repair and maturation) that overlaps in order to restore tissue continuity. Due to its angiogenic properties, as well as its vascular richness and presence of growth factors, the omentum has been widely studied and used in the healing aid, especially in the pedicled graft form, and no studies on the use of free omentum grafts without vascular microanastomosis to aid in cutaneous healing was found. Thus, the present project aims to evaluate the influence of the free omental graft without vascular microanastomosis on cutaneous healing of experimentally produced wounds in rabbits. It will be used 24 rabbits from the Laboratory of Experimental Chemotherapy in Veterinary Parasitology of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro divided into two groups (Treatment and Control) that will be submitted to the removal of omental fragment. After celiorraphy will be produced, in all animals, a linear wound of 3cm in the thoracic dorsal midline. In animals of the Control Group the incision will be deepened until the thoracodorsal fascia, whereas in the Treated Group will be excised a fragment of the subcutaneous cellular tissue equivalent to the area of the removed omental fragment, which will be implanted in the subcutaneous defect using four interrupted single stiches with 4-0 nylon thread at its ends, followed by skin raffia with interrupted single stitches in both groups. The wounds will receive macroscopic evaluations daily, until the biopsy is performed for microscopic evaluation. Thermographic images of the wound region will be obtained on days 3, 5, 7 and 14 postoperative. Each of the groups will be divided into two subgroups with 6 animals each, from which material will be obtained for histopathological evaluation in the 7th and 14th days.