Histopathological study of healing of tracheal autografts in dogs treated with omentopexy

Abstract

The course of healing of tracheal autografts treated with omentopexy was studied histopathologically in 15 dogs. In Group 1 (n=6) tracheal autografts were implanted in the greater omentum for 5, 10, and 28 days. The omentum alone could restore the totally ischemic tracheal autografts irrespective of their length. The epithelium of the grafts originated from the donor and a layer of reepithelialization was seen in their membranous portion and between the tracheal rings where revascularization seemed to be quite rapid. There was hardly any damage to the cartilage. In Group 2 (n=9) the trachea of less than 4 cm in length were excised and reimplanted as autografts with omentopexy. Inflammation and damage to the epithelium and tracheal glands remained for a long time. The healing of the tracheal autografts was closely associated with the restoration of epithelium and subepithelial tissues. Histopathological healing of tracheal grafts required more than 2 months.