title: Experimental replacement of esophagus with a short segment of trachea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Segmental resection of esophagus with primary anastomosis is prohibited because of the risk of dehiscence. We previously have shown that replacement of a segment of cervical esophagus with a tracheal segment of the same length could successfully be performed in a canine model. In this study, we sought to assess the feasibility of replacement of the esophageal defect with a shorter segment of trachea.
  
  
  METHODS
  In five mongrel dogs weighting 20-30 kg, under general anesthesia and after a cervical incision, 8 cm of the cervical esophagus was resected and replaced by a 4-cm segment of the adjacent trachea. The animals were evaluated clinically for signs and symptoms of stenosis and dehiscence and then euthanized after 2 mo of follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All dogs recovered from surgery and started regular diet on the seventh postoperative day. No clinical or endoscopic sign of stenosis or voice change was seen. Squamous metaplasia and atrophy of mucosal glands and cartilage were detected in the histopathologic examination of the replaced segments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Replacement of a cervical esophageal defect with a shorter segment of trachea can be performed successfully in dogs. This procedure can be potentially used for the treatment of cervical esophageal lesions in humans.
authors: Lung Transplantation Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Azizollah
authors: A
authors: Abbasidezfouli
authors: Tracheal Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Damoon
authors: D
authors: Ansari
authors: Tracheal Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: ksheikhy@sbmu.ac.ir.
authors: Kambiz
authors: K
authors: Sheikhy
authors: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Karaj branch of Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran.
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Abarkar
authors: Lung Transplantation Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Farahnaz
authors: F
authors: Sadeghbeigi
authors: Telemedicine Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Sepehr
authors: S
authors: Abbasidezfouli
authors: Department of Clinical Science, Surgery and Radiology Section, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Davood
authors: D
authors: Sharifi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D016629:Esophagectomy; D014132:Trachea / Q000637:transplantation*
keywords: Anastomosis; Esophagus; Replacement; Resection; Trachea