Tracheal reconstruction with a pleuroperiosteal flap.
Reconstruction of extensive tracheal defects remains a difficult surgical problem. In many experiments restoration of tracheal mucosa by autogenous or homologous soft tissue grafts has usually failed because of rejection or tracheal obstruction. This experimental work employed a two-stage surgical procedure that allowed reconstruction of extensive circumferential full-thickness defects of the trachea. Stage I involved the creation of a vascularized pleuroperiosteal flap that was formed into a rigid tube around a Silastic stent. Stage II consisted of creation of a full-thickness circumferential tracheal defect and repair with the flap in those animals in which a suitable rigid tube had been formed. The results of these experiments argue strongly that a vascularized composite pleuroperiosteal flap can produce an adequate tracheal replacement.
D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010521:Periosteum / Q000637:transplantation; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014132:Trachea / Q000601:surgery*
D012826:Silicone Elastomers