title: Experimental replacement of pig trachea with novel bioprosthesis from harp seal.
abstract: Tracheal replacement has been a challenging problem for thoracic surgeons for over half of a century. We evaluated the in-vivo performance of a new tracheal bioprosthesis derived from Harp seal (Phoca groelandica) trachea that was fixed and preserved in 0.625% buffered glutaraldehyde solution for 3 months. Ten young male pigs weighing 27-32 kg (mean, 28.7 kg) underwent replacement of a tracheal segment with this new bioprosthesis. The length of replaced trachea was 1.8-2.4 cm (mean, 2.17 cm), representing 2-3 cartilage rings. All pigs survived the operation uneventfully. No immunosuppression drugs were used. The pigs eventually developed dyspnea and were euthanized on postoperative day 17-39 (mean, 30.8 days). Macroscopic and histological analysis showed an intact bioprosthesis but near-total occlusion of the native trachea by a ring of inflammatory infiltration at the site of distal anastomosis. More experiments involving a different concentration of the preservation agent, different management, and perhaps the use of bioengineering techniques are needed to improve the performance of this novel bioprosthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Athens Medical Center, University of Athens, Greece. agathos@hol.gr
authors.forename: E Andreas
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Agathos
authors.forename: Periklis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tomos
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lachanas
authors.forename: Harikleia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gakiopoulou
authors.forename: Alkystis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pantopoulou
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perrea
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D005404:Fixatives; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005976:Glutaral; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D046048:Seals, Earless; D013552:Swine; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013997:Time Factors; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods; D014132:Trachea / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D005404:Fixatives; D005976:Glutaral