Review of Experimental Tracheal Reconstruction

실험적 기관 재건술에 대한 고찰

The purpose of this study was to review the literatures of experimental tracheal reconstruction. Although there have been significant advancements in the surgical treatment of the long circumferential tracheal injuries, there still has been a difficult problem with high morbidity and mortality. The method for tracheal reconstruction after circumferential resection is preferred end-to-end anastomosis for defects up to 6 cm in length, but larger tracheal defects require the use of tracheal allograft, various artificial prosthesis or autogenous organs. The tracheal allotransplantation has been widely used as there was significantly improved the method of surgical technique, preservation and immunosuppression. But it has been limited by a number of factors such as few donor, limited use of immunosuppressant, delayed revascularization and re-epitheliazation. Experimental studies on the tracheal prosthesis have a long history and they tried to use silicone, polytetrafluoroethylene, polypropylene mesh, Dacron, Marlex mesh, external or internal stents. Other experimental studies were reported the use of autogenous tissues that were cartilage. jejunum, aorta, skin, muscle, periostium or esophagus. But a great variety of these protheses have been resulted unsatisfactory in a significant Proportion of cases. Alternatively, the tissue-engineering technique has showed a new approach to reconstruct trachea and much progress in tissue-engineering bas been made recently. In conclusion, although the tracheal allotransplantation and the use of prosthesis and allograft have been reported a lot of limitation to overcome, we could sooner expect good result of ideal tracheal prosthesis.