Effect of intraoperative ischemia on chondrogenesis by vascularized auricular perichondrium grafted in the airway

Vascularized perichondrium and periosteum are potentially ideal grafts for airway reconstruction. We quantitatively evaluated the effect of a 2-hour interruption of blood supply on subsequent growth of cartilage from vascularized auricular perichondrium grafted in the rabbit airway. Two pedicled auricular perichondrocutaneous flaps were elevated and used to repair two small anterior airway defects in each animal (n = 17). One of the two flaps was randomly clamped for a 2-hour period during the operation, with the other flap serving as a paired control. We found no significant difference in chondrogenesis between the two groups. Our findings support the use of perichondrium and periosteum as free revascularized grafts for airway reconstruction.