title: Tissue-engineered cartilage as a graft source for laryngotracheal reconstruction: a pig model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility of using tissue-engineered cartilage for laryngotracheal reconstruction in the pig model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Auricular cartilage was harvested from 3 young swine. The cartilage was digested, processed, and suspended and a cell culture was obtained. The cells were then suspended in 3 mL of a 30% solution of a biodegradable polymer (Pluronic F-127) (polyethylene oxide/polypropylene oxide copolymer) at a cellular concentration of 50 x 10(6) cells/mL. This suspension was then implanted subcutaneously into each pig's dorsum. Eight weeks after implantation, the cartilage was harvested with the surrounding perichondrial capsule. An anterior cartilage graft laryngotracheal reconstruction was performed. Bronchoscopy was performed at 3 postoperative weeks to demonstrate airway patency. The animals were killed at 3 months, and specimens were obtained for histological analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  An animal research facility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three young Yorkshire swine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 3 pigs survived to the 3-month postoperative interval with no evidence of stridor or airway distress. Interval bronchoscopy revealed a normal patent airway with a mucosalized graft. Histopathologic analysis revealed incorporation of the tissue-engineered cartilage graft in the cricoid area, which correlated with results of bronchoscopic evaluation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tissue-engineered auricular cartilage served as a viable graft in the pig model and might be an alternative cartilage source for laryngotracheal reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Pediatric Otolaryngology Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Syed H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kamil
authors.forename: Roland D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Eavey
authors.forename: Martin P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Vacanti
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Vacanti
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hartnick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003413:Cricoid Cartilage / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004425:Ear Cartilage / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000637:transplantation*; D007830:Larynx / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013552:Swine; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D014132:Trachea / Q000601:surgery*