Abstract
A high water content polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel (85-90% water content; PVA-H) invented by Nanbu has characteristics similar to rubber and causes minimum inflammatory reactions to tissues. A tracheal prosthesis has been fabricated from the PVA-H of 90% water content. The prosthesis, modified from our original one, has three teflon rings so as to keep the tube lumen when implanted. The teflon rings, glued to both ends of the prosthesis, also served as suture cuffs. The cervical trachea was replaced with the prosthesis in 14 adult mongrel dogs. Animals survived from 7 to 120 days after implantation, including 3 sacrificed on postoperative days 43, 51 and 120. All eleven dogs surviving longer than 30 days showed anastomotic disruption to various degrees. The PVA-H tracheal prosthesis showed an adequate consistency and elasticity, air-tight lumen (or air-tightness) and minimum tissue reactions. Long-term fixation of the prosthesis to trachea, however, was difficult. It was concluded that the PVA-H tracheal prosthesis has suitable characteristics as a tracheal substitute, but further improvements to the suture ring and a means of fixation are mandatory.
