Tracheal transplantation

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To treat long tracheal cancer by tracheal transplantation. METHODS: In March 17, 1999, a patient received a total laryngeal resection and a resection of 8 cm upper and middle trachea, which was replaced by a 6 cm long trachea of another donor. The donor trachea was dipped first in preservation liquid A for sterilization for 24 hours, then in preservation liquid B for over 48 hours for destructing MHC. Pedunculated greater omentum and pedunculated greater pectoral musculus supplied the blood for the donor trachea. One side of the donor was anastomosed with the lower trachea, and the other with the neck skin. RESULTS: The patient survived 300 days after operation. The auto tracheal membrane covered the donor surface; auto- and xeno trachea was well anastomose. The new trachea grew very well. CONCLUSION: Trachea transplantation is possible the best method to treat long tracheal disease if the transplantable trachea is less 5 cm.