New Promising Technique for Airway Replacement after Surgery

A promising technique was developed for reconstruction of airway following surgery, reports a new study.

An early study suggests it may be feasible to use human aortic grafts preserved by freezing to rebuild windpipe and airway sections removed because of disease. Airway replacement could potentially benefit many patients with lung cancer and be an option for patients with end-stage tracheobronchial disease.

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‘Airway replacement using a cryopreserved aortic graft and the custom-made stent can benefit many patients with lung cancer and end-stage tracheobronchial disease.’

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The study included 20 patients with lung tumors or tracheal lesions, of which 13 patients had diseased airway sections removed and underwent airway transplantation (5 tracheal, 7 bronchial and 1 carinal, which is where the trachea divides into the bronchi of the lungs); study conducted from October 2009 through February 2017, with final patient follow-up in November 2017.

Airway transplantation using a cryopreserved aortic graft and a custom-made stent inserted into the graft to keep the airway from collapsing but was later removed (exposure); 90-day morality (primary outcome).

This was a cohort study where people were followed over time.

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The authors of the study were Emmanuel Martinod, M.D., Ph.D., Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris, Bobigny, France, and coauthors.

The results of the study show

Overall 90-day mortality among initial 20 patients was 5% because one patient who underwent carinal transplantation died
No deaths after 90 days among patients who underwent tracheal or bronchial reconstruction
About 10 of 13 patients who underwent transplantation alive after nearly four years
Nearly 8 of 10 breathing normally through newly formed airways after stent removal
New generation of cartilage was observed in transplanted areas

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