From the Guidelines
A graft is a transplanted tissue from one part of the body to another or from a donor, used to replace or repair damaged or diseased tissue [ 1 ].
Types of Grafts
- Autografts: tissue taken from one part of the body and transplanted to another [ 1 ]
- Allografts: tissue taken from a donor [ 1 ]
Grafting Procedure
Grafting procedures require careful planning, precise surgical technique, and post-operative care to ensure successful integration of the transplanted tissue [ 1 ].
Post-Operative Care
Medications such as immunosuppressants, like tacrolimus or cyclosporine, may be prescribed to prevent rejection of the graft [ 1 ].
Complications
Grafting procedures can be associated with complication rates of 16% to 23%, including intraoperative rupture of the allograft and anastomotic bleeding [ 1 ]. Some key points to consider when dealing with grafts include:
- Rejection reactions: corneal transplant rejection reactions are the most frequent cause of corneal graft failure [ 1 ]
- Infection rates: lowest infection rate is associated with autogenous venous grafts [ 1 ]
- Graft failure: primary graft failure, late graft failure, and graft dislocation are potential complications [ 1 ]
From the Research
Definition of a Graft
- A graft is a piece of tissue, such as skin or bone, that is harvested from one part of the body and transplanted to another area to repair or replace damaged tissue 2, 3, 4.
- Grafts can be classified according to their host-donor relationship and by their thickness, with autogenous grafts being the most commonly used type in clinical settings 3.
Types of Grafts
- Skin grafts can be further categorized into different types, including:
- Split-thickness grafts: require special skill and equipment, but have a better take rate than full-thickness grafts 3.
- Full-thickness grafts: have a better cosmetic appearance, but do not take as well as split-thickness grafts 3.
- Seed, strip, and stamp grafts: each with their own advantages and disadvantages, and varying levels of cosmetic attractiveness 3.
- Bone grafts, such as autologous bone grafts, are used in orthopedic surgery for fusions, fracture repair, and reconstruction of skeletal defects 4.
Grafting Procedure
- The grafting procedure involves preparing the recipient site, harvesting the graft from a donor site, and applying the graft to the recipient site 3, 5.
- The recipient site must be a healthy bed of granulation tissue or vascular enough to produce a bed of granulation tissue for the graft to take successfully 3.
- The graft undergoes various processes, including fibrinous adherence, plasmatic imbibition, inoculation, and new vessel ingrowth, to develop a new blood supply and attachment to underlying tissues 3.