Tracheal resection and mucociliary clearance.
Mucociliary transport following tracheal resection and end-to-end anastomosis was evaluated in beagle dogs, using the movement of 99MTC labeled sodium pertechnetate solution as a marker. Preoperatively, mucociliary clearance was stable, but a three-fold decrease in tracheal mucus movement was found three days postoperatively. Clearance rates had returned to normal by 31 days postoperatively and remained stable over a ten week period of observation. By histological examination, normal ciliated epithelium was seen within six months following resection and anastomosis. Since up to 25% (4 cm or seven tracheal rings) of tracheal length was removed, significant longitudinal loss can take place without functional impairment of mucociliary clearance. Circumferential narrowing, however, was associated with a significant decrease in clearance.
D000818:Animals; D002923:Cilia / Q000502:physiology*; D004285:Dogs; D004848:Epithelium / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000601:surgery; D009093:Mucus / Q000502:physiology*; D013667:Technetium; D014132:Trachea / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery*
D013667:Technetium