title: Segmental tracheal reconstruction by 3D-printed scaffold: Pivotal role of asymmetrically porous membrane.
abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) printed scaffold for tracheal reconstruction can substitute the conventional treatment of tracheal stenosis. This study investigated the survival outcomes of segmental tracheal reconstruction using 3D printed polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold with or without asymmetrically porous membrane in rabbit animal model.
  
  
  
  Animal study.
  
  
  
  Six mature New Zealand white rabbits were categorized into two groups (three animals for each) according to the procedures they received: tracheal reconstruction using 3D printed PCL scaffold without asymmetrically porous membrane (group 1) versus with asymmetrically porous membrane (group 2). We compared the endoscopic findings of tracheal lumen, radiologic assessment using microcomputed tomography (CT) scanner and histologic findings. Overall survival duration after procedure was compared in both groups.
  
  
  
  The survival of group 2 was longer than group 1 (21, 37, 46 days vs. 4, 10, 12 days, respectively). Although mucosal regeneration in tracheal lumen was not full enough in both groups, the patency was well maintained in group 2. Micro-CT and histologic analysis showed that there were tracheal narrowing in the whole length in group 1, whereas only the anastomosis site was stenotic in group 2.
  
  
  
  Asymmetrically porous membrane reinforced by 3D printed mesh is promising as a 360-degree tracheal substitute with comparable survival and luminal patency. Further study is necessary to minimize the narrowing of the anastomosis site and improve the mucosal regeneration for longer survival.
  
  
  
  NA. Laryngoscope, 126:E304-E309, 2016.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Doh Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Nature-Inspired Nanoconvergence Systems, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Su A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Biomedical Engineering and Institute of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.|Department of Nature-Inspired Nanoconvergence Systems, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Materials, Hannam University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Ho
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Nanobiomedical Science and BK21 PLUS NBM Global Research Center for Regenerative Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Se Heang
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Materials, Hannam University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Keun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D011091:Polyesters; D016062:Porosity; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D011817:Rabbits; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014132:Trachea / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone
keywords: Trachea; polycaprolactone; prosthesis; reconstruction