The Experimental Reconstruction of the Trachea with A Heavy Marlex Mesh and Pericardium

Heavy Marlex Mesh 와 심낭편을 이용한 기관재건술의 실험적 연구

The increasing frequency of post-tracheostomy stenosis parallels the increase in the incidence of tracheostomy. The development of stenosis of trachea following the operation of tracheal tumor or tracheostomy is a very serious complication. The continuing need for an adequate tracheal substitute has not been answered, despite the necessities of excision and reconstruction of the trachea to keep for effective ventilation. Experimental tracheal reconstuction, with a prosthesis of heavy Marlex mesh and pericardium, _ vas performed in twelve dogs. Five to six tracheal ring circumferential defects were created and were bridged with heavy Marlex mesh fashioned into a tube of suitable diameter. Group A: A prepared cylinder of Marlex mesh was anastomosed outside the cut ends of the trachea. Group B: The external surface of the prepared cylinder of Marlex mesh was completely covered with suitably sized patch of pericardium and overlapped all margin of the Marlex mesh by 2 to 3 mm in each direction. Group C: The internal surface of the prepared cylinder of Marlex mesh was covered with suitably sized patch of pericardium and overlapped all margin of the Marlex mesh by 2 to 3 mm in each direction. The results of this exepriment were as follow: 1. In group A and B, the graft was well bridged with new granulation and fibrous tissue, and the lumen of trachea kept good patency for effective ventilation.. The interstices of Marlex became uniformly infiltrated with young well vasculated connective tissue. Epithelization has not yet occurred at 4 weeks in each group, but there were evidences of new growing mucosa at grafted site in 6 weeks. The remainder of the prosthesis was completely covered with glistening epithelium and the underlying fibrous tissue became more matured with little inflammation. These findings were more striking in group B than group A. 2. In group C, the covered pericardium was necrotized with stenosis of the lumen of grafted site due to poor blood supply.