Tissue-engineered cartilage as a graft source for laryngotracheal reconstruction: a pig model.
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.
Kamil
Syed H
SH
Department of Otolaryngology, Pediatric Otolaryngology Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston 02114, USA.
Eavey
Roland D
RD
Vacanti
Martin P
MP
Vacanti
Charles A
CA
Hartnick
Christopher J
CJ
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*