The successful reconstruction of thoracic tracheal defects with free periosteal grafts

A defect was created in the thoracic trachea in nine piglets (10 kg) by excising a segment from the entire thoracic trachea proximal to the right upper lobe bronchus (3 to 3.5 cm in length) and 30% of the circumference in width (1 to 1.5 cm). The defect was repaired with a free tibial periosteal graft (FPG) and in four piglets an omental pedicle graft (OPG) was applied to the surface of the FPG. An internal tracheal splint was inserted for 12 to 16 days to support the repair and prevent air leak. The splints were removed bronchoscopically. None of the pigs developed signs of airway obstruction at any stage following the repair. Eight were killed 3 months postoperatively when four to six times their original weight. One pig died on the 18th postoperative day of unknown cause. The tracheas were removed, x-rayed, and examined grossly and histologically. The results demonstrated normal tracheal growth with absence of either stenosis, collapse, or granulation tissue. All grafts were viable, bone formation was present, and the lumenal surfaces were lined with columnar and respiratory epithelium. The OPG did not improve vascularization of the FPG. This model suggests that tracheal stenosis in children may be surgically corrected by simply incising the stenotic segment longitudinally and enlarging the tracheal diameter by inserting a FPG into the defect.