Application of a free flap from urinary bladder mucosa for urethroplasty in experiment

Experiments on 8 rabbits have demonstrated that mucosa of the urinary bladder freely transplanted into the subcutaneous fat or under the muscular fascia is engrafted with unaffected normal histological structure and revascularized with vessels invading from the adjacent tissues. Urethroplasty with a vesical mucosa graft was made in 10 dogs with experimental urethral stricture (4 animals), urethral fistula (5 animals) or a combination of urethral stricture and fistula (1 animal). A positive result with reestablishment of normal urethral passability and elimination of urinary fistula was achieved in 9 animals (followup for 1 year). One dog died of an unknown cause. Urodynamic examination of the dogs in long-term follow-up reported normal urethral resistance to urinary flow.