Composite Tissue Allotransplantation (CTA) research in the Frank Hawkins Kenan Plastic Surgery Research laboratories is providing critical clinical data for the treatment of patients with significant tissue loss.   CTA is one of the newest and immunologically complex transplant fields, and although hand and face transplants have received much world-wide media attention, transplants such as an abdominal wall using composite tissue, will likely have even greater functional benefit to patients.

 

Problem abdominal wounds can expose the patient's internal organs to infections and other complications that can be fatal.  CTA, using microsurgical techniques, is one solution for these complex wounds, and Duke researchers are studying approaches to improve outcomes for these complicated transplants. 

 

First, a heart is transplanted from a donor rat into the neck region of the recipient (see figure). Next, the abdominal wall is transplanted from a second donor to the abdomen of the recipient.

 

From this study, Duke researchers can determine if a secondary transplant such as this has a deleterious effect on the primary transplanted critical organ.

Detlev Erdmann, MD, PhD, MHSc, Associate Professor

Bruce Klitzman, PhD, Associate Professor

Issei Komatsu, MD, Fellow

Jun Yang, MD, Tony Fung International Fellow

 

 

Shu S. Lin, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery

William Parker, PhD, Assistant Professor, Surgical Sciences