Replacement of Urologic Organs

Numerous urologic tissue substitutes have been attempted with both synthetic and organic materials (1). The first application of a free-tissue graft for bladder replacement was reported by Neuhoff in 1917, when fascia was used to augment bladders in dogs (2). Since that first report, multiple other free-graft materials have been used experimentally and clinically, including skin, bladder submucosa, omentum, dura, peritoneum, placenta, sero-muscular grafts, and small intestinal submucosa (3–8). Synthetic materials, which have been tried previously in experimental and clinical settings, include polyvinyl sponge, tetrafluoroethylene (Teflon), gelatin sponge, collagen matrices, vicryl matrices, resin-sprayed paper, and silicone (9–15). Some of the aforementioned attempts have not gained clinical acceptance owing to either mechanical, structural, functional, or biocompatibility problems. Permanent synthetic materials have been associated with mechanical failure and calculus formation. Natural