title: Comparison of resorbable poly-L-lactic acid-polyglycolic acid and internal Palmaz stents for the surgical correction of severe tracheomalacia.
abstract: Tracheomalacia (TM) is associated with expiratory airway collapse and potentially fatal respiratory distress. Internal and external tracheal stents and, recently, resorbable biopolymers have been used to treat this condition. In this study, the efficacy and biocompatibility of internal Palmaz stents and external poly-L-lactic acid-polyglycolic acid (PLPG) stents were compared in a model of severe TM induced in piglets. The tracheas were repaired with one of two stenting methods, and the animals survived for up to 16 weeks. Weight gain, adverse respiratory signs and symptoms, tracheal or lung histopathologic changes, and internal and external tracheal diameters were measured. The animals in the PLPG group uniformly were free of respiratory distress and tracheal stenosis or inflammation, whereas all animals in the Palmaz group developed respiratory distress as a result of pneumonia or tracheal stenosis caused by intraluminal granulation tissue. In conclusion, superior efficacy of external, resorbable PLPG stents was found relative to internal Palmaz stents for the surgical repair of severe TM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Sewall
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: Nadine P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Connor
authors.forename: Gregory K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Hartig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004724:Endoscopy; D006097:Granulation Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D023421:Models, Animal; D011091:Polyesters; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011897:Random Allocation; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology; D015607:Stents; D013552:Swine; D014132:Trachea / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery*; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide)