EXPERIMENTAL TRACHEAL REPLACEMENT USING THE ESOPHAGUS AND AN EXPANDABLE METALLIC STENT

An experimental study was conducted to investigate whether a segment o f autogenous esophagus with its lumen supported by an expandable metal lic stent (EMS) could be successfully used as a tracheal substitute. S even rings of the cervical trachea were circumferentially removed and reconstructed by interposing a pedicled segment of the esophagus with an EMS in six mongrel dogs. The interposed esophagus was observed endo scopically at various stages after the operation. By 1 month, the EMS was found to be buried under the esophageal mucosa, and the lumen was patent. The dogs died 5, 17, 61, 92, 210, and 478 days after the opera tion, but the cause of death could not be determined by postmortem exa mination and no respiratory tract complications were detected. The res ults of this study indicated that a segment of the esophagus with its lumen supported by an EMS could work as a reliable tracheal substitute , though its practical use is not clinically feasible. Nevertheless, w e conclude that some autogenous material other than the esophagus with its lumen supported by an EMS could provide a feasible method for tra cheal replacement.