TRANSPLANTATION OF OMENTUM IN THE OPERATIVE TREATMENT OF INTESTINAL DEFECTS; A CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL CONTRIBUTION.

Abstract

The omentum plays a great role in the reparative process following traumatic injuries of the abdominal cavity, both in the destruction of microbes and protection of the general peritoneal cavity by reason of adhesions with intestines and the parietal peritoneum. It has even spontaneously closed up small perforations of the stomach and intestines and thus saved lives without surgical intervention. That the omentum has some property in conveying immunity to the general peritoneal cavity has been shown by the interesting experiments of Roger. He demonstrated that the omentum is a lymphatic ganglion. In rabbits and guinea-pigs, he removed the entire omentum and then injected pus organisms into the abdomen. All the animals died in a few days, while those in which the omentum remained survived, although inoculated with the same microbes. Since Nicholas Senn proved by his experimental work the adaptability of omental transplantation, as well as omental grafting over