This Science News Wire page contains a press release issued by an organization and is provided to you "as is" with little or no review from Science X staff.

Technique shows promise for reconstruction of airway following surgery

May 21st, 2018

Bottom Line: An early study suggests it may be feasible to use human aortic grafts preserved by freezing to rebuild windpipe and airway sections removed because of disease.

Why The Research Is Interesting: Airway replacement could potentially benefit many patients with lung cancer and be an option for patients with end-stage tracheobronchial disease.

Who and When: 20 patients with lung tumors or tracheal lesions, of which 13 patients had diseased airway sections removed and underwent airway transplantation (5 tracheal, 7 bronchial and 1 carinal, which is where the trachea divides into the bronchi of the lungs); study conducted from October 2009 through February 2017, with final patient follow-up in November 2017

What (Study Measures): Airway transplantation using a cryopreserved aortic graft and custom-made stent inserted into the graft to keep the airway from collapsing but was later removed (exposure); 90-day morality (primary outcome)

How (Study Design): This was a cohort study where people were followed over time.

Authors: Emmanuel Martinod, M.D., Ph.D., Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris, Bobigny, France, and coauthors

Results:

Overall 90-day mortality among initial 20 patients was 5% because one patient who underwent carinal transplantation died
No deaths after 90 days among patients who underwent tracheal or bronchial reconstruction
10 of 13 patients who underwent transplantation alive after nearly four years
8 of 10 breathing normally through newly formed airways after stent removal
New generation of cartilage was observed in transplanted areas

Study Limitations: Limited number of patients in this feasibility study at a single center without a comparison group; larger studies needed to further assess effectiveness and safety

Study Conclusions: This study demonstrated the feasibility for complex tracheal and bronchial reconstruction.

More information:
Emmanuel Martinod et al. Feasibility of Bioengineered Tracheal and Bronchial Reconstruction Using Stented Aortic Matrices, JAMA (2018). DOI: 10.1001/jama.2018.4653

Provided by The JAMA Network Journals

Citation: Technique shows promise for reconstruction of airway following surgery (2018, May 21) retrieved 22 September 2025 from https://sciencex.com/wire-news/288329089/technique-shows-promise-for-reconstruction-of-airway-following-s.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.