RECONSTRUCTION OF THE RABBIT TRACHEA WITH VASCULARIZED AURICULAR PERICHONDRIUM

Success in laryngotracheal reconstruction has been limited, in part, b y the lack of an ideal grafting material. Perichondrium is thin, pliab le, and highly vascularized and has the ability to generate new cartil age providing rigid support. These qualities make vascularized pericho ndrium potentially the ideal grafting material for circumferential air way stenosis. A pedicled vascularized flap of auricular perichondrium was used in a rabbit model (n = 39) to reconstruct a near-circumferent ial tracheal defect without a tracheostomy. A stent was used to suppor t the reconstructed airway for 6 weeks, after which time it was remove d by direct laryngoscopy. Animals were observed for an additional 6 we eks prior to sacrifice. Qualitative and quantitative histologic analys is of neochondrogenesis is reported. Vascularized perichondrium and pe riosteum show promise as potential grafts for reconstruction of circum ferential tracheal defects.