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Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Murine Intrapulmonary Tracheal Transplantation: A Model for Investigating Obliterative Airway Disease After Lung Transplantation
Published on: November 10, 2023
Airway transplantation: a debate worth having?
Martin Birchall1, Paolo Macchiarini
1Laryngeal Research Group, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom. martin.birchall@bristol.ac.uk
Laryngeal and tracheal transplantation show promise for airway disease, but significant barriers like patient selection and immunosuppression need addressing. Tissue engineering offers a future for tracheal replacement.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Transplantation Immunology
- Surgical Innovation
Background:
- Irreversible airway diseases necessitate advanced treatment options.
- Laryngeal and tracheal transplantation have been explored for decades.
- Limited clinical success highlights existing challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current status of laryngeal and tracheal transplantation.
- To identify barriers to clinical implementation.
- To explore future directions, including tissue engineering.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of laryngeal and tracheal transplantation studies.
- Analysis of challenges in patient selection, reinnervation, and immunosuppression.
- Discussion of tissue engineering for tracheal replacement.
Main Results:
- Only one laryngeal transplant has been reported.
- Significant hurdles remain for laryngeal transplantation.
- Tissue engineering is a promising avenue for tracheal replacement.
Conclusions:
- Overcoming barriers is crucial for advancing laryngeal transplantation.
- Tissue engineering presents a viable future for tracheal reconstruction.
- Further research is needed to enable widespread clinical application.
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