Regenerative medicine of the trachea: the first human case.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the present study was to demonstrate regenerative medicine of the tracheal tissue by using an in situ tissue engineering technique for airway reconstruction.


METHODS
Based on the previous successful experimental animal studies, the current regenerative technique was applied to repair of the trachea of a 78-year-old woman with thyroid cancer. A Marlex mesh tube covered by collagen sponge was used as a tissue scaffold. The operative intervention included right hemithyroidectomy, resection of the trachea, and tracheoplasty using the scaffold. The right half of three rings of the trachea was resected, and the scaffold material was sutured to the defect of the trachea.


RESULTS
After 2 weeks, the mesh collagen structure of the artificial material could be seen with endoscopy in most of the implanted area. The artificial material was covered with epithelial growth after 2 months. Epithelialization continued to cover the artificial material completely for 2 years without any complications.


CONCLUSIONS
The current regenerative technique avoided tracheotomy, a second operation, and deformity. Good epithelialization has been observed on the tracheal luminal surface without any complications for 2 years. Although long-term observation is required, regenerative medicine of the tracheal tissue appears feasible for airway reconstruction.
Omori
Koichi
K
Department of Otolaryngology, Fukushima Medical University, School of Medicine, Fukushima City, Japan.
Nakamura
Tatsuo
T
Kanemaru
Shinichi
S
Asato
Ryo
R
Yamashita
Masaru
M
Tanaka
Shinzo
S
Magrufov
Akhmar
A
Ito
Juichi
J
Shimizu
Yasuhiko
Y
D000368:Aged; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D003094:Collagen; D005260:Female; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007820:Laryngeal Mucosa / Q000254:growth & development; D011126:Polypropylenes; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D014132:Trachea / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*
D011126:Polypropylenes; D003094:Collagen