title: Reconstruction of tracheal wall defect with a mesh patch of nickel-titanium shape-memory alloy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We explored the feasibility of reconstructing tracheal wall defects with a mesh patch fashioned from a nickel-titanium shape-memory alloy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A tracheal wall defect was first constructed surgically by resecting the anterior half of the tracheal wall between the second and sixth tracheal rings. The defect was reconstructed in 8 experimental animals by replacing the resected tracheal mucosa and tracheal cartilage with a pedicle skin flap, which was then enclosed in the mesh patch. In 4 control animals, only a pedicle skin flap with strap muscles was used in the reconstruction procedure. The performance of the animals was observed after surgery. At the end of the experiments, the reconstructed segment was harvested for anatomic evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the experimental group, 1 animal died 5 days after the operation. Endoscopic and anatomic examination of the 7 animals that survived the observation period showed that the reconstructed trachea was stable, with sufficient airway space for breathing. All 4 control animals died after the operation. After observing successful completion of this operation in animals, we successfully used this method to repair a tracheal wall defect in a human victim of a traffic accident.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tracheal defects can be successfully reconstructed by use of a mesh patch of nickel-titanium shape-memory alloy as an extraluminal stent--a method that avoids complications associated with intraluminal stents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Jia-Sheng
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Peng-Cheng
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Peng-Fei
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Hou
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nan
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yong-Zhu
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000497:Alloys; D000818:Animals; D003413:Cricoid Cartilage / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D050724:Fractures, Cartilage / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009532:Nickel; D011897:Random Allocation; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013957:Thyroid Cartilage / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D014025:Titanium; D014132:Trachea / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D014140:Tracheotomy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; D009532:Nickel; D014025:Titanium