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Updated: Aug 21, 2026
Seeding and Implantation of a Biosynthetic Tissue-engineered Tracheal Graft in a Mouse Model
Published on: April 1, 2019
Prefabrication of composite grafts for long-segment tracheal reconstruction
Yves Jaquet1, Raphaelle Pilloud, Florian J W Lang
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland. yves.jacquet@hospvd.ch
Objective:
To investigate the prefabrication of vascularized mucosa-lined composite grafts intended to replace circumferential tracheal defects.
Design:
Plane grafts composed of ear cartilage and full-thickness oral mucosa were revascularized by the laterothoracic fascia. The use of meshed vs nonmeshed mucosa to improve the epithelial coverage was examined. We also investigated the creation of a vascular bed over the cartilage and the subsequent application of meshed mucosa. Macroscopic aspects, viability, and degree of mucosal lining were analyzed.
Subjects:
Twenty male New Zealand white rabbits.
Interventions:
Ten animals underwent placement of auricular cartilage under the laterothoracic fascia. Intact (group 1) or meshed mucosa (group 2) was applied over the fascia and protected by a silicone sheet. After 3 weeks, prefabricated grafts were removed for comparison. In 10 other animals, a sheet of perforated cartilage was placed under the laterothoracic fascia. Two weeks later, 5 grafts (group 3) were harvested. The remaining 5 grafts were reopened for mucosal application over the cartilage and revascularized for 3 additional weeks (group 4).
Results:
Vascularized plane grafts were obtained in all groups. Mucosal lining increased significantly with meshed mucosa (14%-68%; mean, 40%) compared with nonmeshed mucosa (3%-15%; mean, 10%) (P = .008). Induction of a vascular bed over perforated cartilage was achieved, but survival of secondary implanted mucosa was variable.
Conclusions:
A reliable technique to prefabricate composite grafts with cartilaginous support and mucosal lining is presented. The use of meshed mucosa significantly improves epithelial coverage.
