Experimental tracheal reconstruction with free prefabricated arterialized venous flap

Summary

A technique of tracheal reconstruction in the rat model has been developed using the microvascular transfer of a prefabricated compound flap. This flap consists of a tubed cartilage graft incorporated within an arterialized venous flap created in the abdominal skin. Twenty-five Wistar male rats were operated on in three stages. First, the subcutaneous venous network was arterialized by doing an arteriovenous anastomosis. Seven days later, a tube of autologous cartilage was made from the xiphoid cartilage. This neotrachea was buried in a subcutaneous pocket within the arterialized abdominal area. Eight weeks later, the free flap containing the neotrachea, a skin island and a vascular pedicle was transferred to the neck, doing the afferent and efferent anastomosis to the carotid artery and the jugular vein. The neotrachea was interposed into a 1 cm tracheal defect. Microangiography and pathological studies were done in all cases. The pathologic study revealed a stable, viable cartilage tube with an internal lining of fibrous periprosthetic capsule. Angiography demonstrated enhanced vascularization in the abdominal flap. Flap viability was 85%. Postoperative survival ranged from 12 h to 5 days. In all cases, the animal died with a patent airway.