[An experimental study of the efficacy of politetrafluoroethylene grafts in tracheal surgery]

We studied the efficacy of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts in the surgical correction of extensive tracheal defects in rabbits. Results showed anastomotic stenosis in 100% of the animals after primary reconstruction when a total of six complete rings were resected. We did not appreciate tracheal stenosis in no animal when we applied a PTFE prosthesis placed around the anastomotic site. Results were not satisfactory upon repairing partial tracheal defect by means of a spindle of PTFE prosthesis. We concluded that the external tutor is useful for the surgical correction of the tracheal stenosis induced after resection of six rings in the cervical tracheal of the animal.