Histologic study of Gore-Tex removed after rhinoplasty.

Objectives/hypothesis: Gore-Tex is known to be a relatively safe material. However, it leads to complications. Although widely used, the reasons complications occur are poorly understood. Thus, this study attempted to investigate histological changes between the Gore-Tex, removed within a certain period of time after rhinoplasty, and its neighboring tissues.

Methods: This study involved 122 Gore-Tex samples obtained at the time of reoperation in patients who had undergone augmentation rhinoplasty. The subject group included 31 men and 91 women. The mean patient age was 30.2 years, and the mean Gore-Tex implantation period was 23.2 months (range, 1 week-13 years). We noted the shapes of the Gore-Tex samples, their relationships and extent of adhesion with neighboring tissues, and the changes of thickness. We also observed tissue ingrowth, calcification, inflammation, foreign body reaction, and structural changes using light microscopy and electron microscopy.

Results: After the Gore-Tex samples had been in place for an extended period of time, the neighboring tissues grew into the central portions of the samples, which enhanced adhesion between the samples and the tissues. In addition, Gore-Tex samples that had been implanted for longer periods of time were associated with decreased thickness and calcification, foreign body reactions, and increased structural changes.

Conclusions: In contrast to previous studies, our study showed that Gore-Tex samples implanted in human bodies for extended periods of time prompted ingrowth of neighboring tissues, calcified tissue degeneration, and inflammation. Foreign body reactions were found in a large number of samples. The Gore-Tex structures were destroyed and transformed. As a result, it is important to follow the stability of Gore-Tex material on a long-term basis.