Full circumferential human tracheal replacement: a systematic review

Full Circumferential Tracheal Replacement (FCTR) is a surgical challenge, indicated in rare cases of extensive tracheal resection, with no consensus on surgical technique or materials. A systematic review according to PRISMA guidelines was carried out from 2000 to 2022 to identify cases of FCTR, to compare surgical indications, the nature of the tracheal substitutes and their immunological characteristics, surgical replacement techniques and vascularization. Thirty-seven patients, including five children, underwent FCTR surgery using 4 different techniques: thyrotracheal complex allograft (n = 2), aorta (n = 12), autologous surgical reconstruction (n = 19), tissue-engineered decellularized trachea (n = 4). The mean follow-up was 4 years. Of the 15 deceased patients, 10 died of the progression of the initial pathology. For the majority of the teams, particular care was given to the vascularization of the substitute, in order to guarantee long-term biointegration. This included either direct vascularization via vascular anastomosis, or an indirect technique involving envelopment of the avascular substitute in a richly vascularized tissue. Stent placement was standard, except for autologous surgical reconstructions where tracheal caliber was stable. Internal stents were frequently complicated by granulation and stenosis. Although epithelial coverage is essential to limit endoluminal proliferation and act as a barrier, fully functional ciliated airway epithelium did not seem to be necessary. In order to facilitate future comparisons, a standardized clinical trial, respecting regulatory constraints, including routine follow-up with tracheal biomechanics assessment and scheduled biopsies could be proposed. It would help collecting information such as dynamics and mechanisms of tracheal bio-integration and regeneration.