Experimental Tracheal Reconstruction with Composite Graft from Nasal Septum

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Abstract
A composite graft from the nasal septum, consisting of cartilage with attached mucosa, was transplanted to a window defect in the cervical trachea in 5 dogs. No respiratory symptom appeared during the observation time of 11 to 12 months. Four dogs had only slightly reduced tracheal dimensions in the reconstructed region, but one had a pronounced stenosis, which might be due to an anesthesiological complication. There were only remnants of the transplanted cartilage. The mucosa had principally ciliated columnar epithelium but the central part had often nonciliated cuboidal epithelium. Since the anterior part of the nasal septum in dogs has squamous epithelium it seems likely that a transformation to columnar epithelium had occurred. Mucus transport over the central part of the grafted place was only observed in one dog. The possibility of utilizing the described method in man is discussed.

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