Skin biopsy as a method for determining indications for preventive endoprosthetics of the anterior abdominal wall

Abstract

The aim is to examine the effectiveness of preoperative skin biopsy method to determine indications for preventive endoprosthesis implantation of the anterior abdominal wall based on structural features of connective tissue. Materials and methods. The study included 17 patients who had been planned to undergo a scheduled surgery such as video laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The histological material was collected with DERMO PUNCH biopsy needles in an outpatient clinic. Using polarized light microscopy we inspected histological slices coloured with Sirius red. After that we analyzed histological sections including the ratio of collagen fibers, the density of connective tissue and the number of interfibrous spaces. Results. All the studied features of connective tissue dysplasia had been registered among 18% of patients; significant differences (p ≤0.05) had been identified among other 24% of patients. In patients with identified signs of connective tissue dysplasia, an increase in type III collagen fibers and a decrease in type I fibers were revealed, which directly resulted in a decrease in their ratio. In addition, this category of patients noted a decrease in the density of connective tissue and a significant number of interfibrous spaces. Conclusion. Skin biopsy is a safe and informative method to reveal patients with predisposition to the formation of hernias of the anterior abdominal wall based on structural features of connective tissue and to determine indications for preventive endoprosthetic implantation. This method will reduce the frequency of postoperative ventral hernias, so the effectiveness of the treatment will definitely increase.