An Experimental Study of Repair of the Membranous Portion of the Trachea

Abstract

In our previous report, we described the experimental repair of the membranous portion of the trachea with a muscular flap which resulted in airway stenosis at 1 week after the operation. In this study, the healing process of the repair of the membranous portion with a muscular flap and Marlex mesh was investigated in 9 dogs. Bronchoscopically, no airway stenosis was observed in any dog. At 4 weeks after the opertion, almost normal tracheal findings were observed. Histologically, limited epithelization at the margin of the flap was observed at 1 week after the operation and the ciliated epithelium covered the entire surface of the flap at 4 weeks after the operation. The inflammatory changes of the muscle were less than those repaired with the muscle flap only.