Experimental Study Of Reconstructing Airway With New Combined Prosthesis

Objectives When trachea have to be cut above 6 cm, we could not anastomose trachea end to end commonly, usually artificial trachea should be implanted to reconstruct airway. Now, there are many defect in all kinds of artificial trachea. We adopted a new combined artificial trachea prosthesis to substitute dogs' trachea. In this research we resected part of cervical trachea of dogs, and implanted combined artificial trachea prosthesis to reconstruct airway. We investigated the feasibility of using the new combined artificial tracheal prosthesis to replace extensive circumferential tracheal defects, through observing the condition of dogs' postoperative.Methods We Separated this experiment into two parts. On the first part, we designed and manufacted the combined artificial trachea with e-PTFE vascular prosthesis with ex-frame ring, titanium ring and GORE-TEX Dualmesh patch. On the second part, we cut part of cervical trachea of dogs, and implanted the e-PTFE vascular prosthesis with ex-frame ring(group A) and combined artificial tracheal prosthesis(group B) to reconstruct airway, and observed the postoperative condition by CT, BFS (bronchofibroscope) and histopathological change.Results 1) The postoperative life span of group A was 51.83±4.88 days and group B was 165.75±40.31 days on average. 2) The granulation tissue, stenostomia, anastomotic stoma infection and stomal leak could be observed different degree in group A, the conditions of group B was gratify which stenostomia was lower than 1/3 in the 6 months, except one dog,which was died on the 66th day after operation,because of stomal leak. 3) Fibrous connective tissue was found rigorous around prosthesis, which made the prosthesis and trachea of dog itself incorporated. 4) Endotheliocyte could not be found in inner wall of both prosthesis.Conclusion 1) This artificial tracheal could lighten the granulation tissue grow on granastomotic stoma, effectively, the GORE-TEX Dualmesh patch is benefit for restitution of granastomotic stoma. 2) This combined artificial tracheal can be used into reconstruction of airway,but the longh-term effective is need to research further more. 3) There are some defect of this combined artificial trachea, it should to be improved if used into body.