Research article
Tracheal replacement by autogenous aorta
1 Department of Surgery, New York Hospital Queens (Weill College of Cornell University), New York, USA
2 Department of Surgery, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
3 Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
4 Department of Pharmacology, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
5 Department of Pathology, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery 2009, 4:23 doi:10.1186/1749-8090-4-23
Published: 9 June 2009Abstract
Background
Tracheal defects may occur after trauma or prolonged intubation. Resection of tracheal tumors also poses a major challenge for substitution. In an effort to solve this problem, different techniques have been tried with little success. We report on a new animal model which showed acceptable results with fewer complications.
Methods
We replaced 5 cm of cervical trachea in 10 dogs with harvested infra-renal aorta and repaired the aortic defect with Dacron graft.
Results
Necropsy of the grafted aorta and anastomotic site revealed well healed anastomosis in all animals together with ciliated columnar epithelium coverage of grafted aorta and neovascularization of aortic wall.
Conclusion
Aortic graft is preferable to other substitutes because of less antigenicity, less vascularity, and no mucous secretions or peristalsis
