Abstract: Objective To study the feasibility of reconstructing trachea by implanting autogenous costal perichondrium tracheal prosthesis. Methods Ten dogs were used. Three pieces of costal perichondrium of every dog were wrapped on a silicon bar used as skeleton and implanted into sternohyoid muscle adjacent to trachea to establish blood supply. Four weeks later, silicon bar was removed and perichondrium ring served as tracheal prosthesis. Trachea resection and prosthesis replacement was performed. Viability of dogs, gross and microscopic pathological changes were studied to evaluate the effect of prosthesis replacement. Results The respiratory tracts of the 8 survival dogs were not obstructed. Their diet, activity and bark were not different from those of the normal dogs. With abundant blood supply,the prosthesis fused tightly with the surrounding tissue. Anastomotic orifice healed without cicatricial tissue and granulation tissue. The internal surfaces of prosthesis were smooth and glossy with white tunica mucosa covered. Under light microscope, internal surfaces of prosthesis were found covered by pseudostratified columnar epithelium with few cilia. Under tracheal mucous membrane, there were fibrous membrane, neonate chondrocytes and striated muscle cells stratum successively. Fibrous membrane was composed of collagen and fibroblasts with a few inflammatory cells scattered. A small number of neonate chondrocytes were found under fiber membrane. Plasma of these chondrocytes looked pale after staining, which indicated that these chondrocytes were neonate. Striated muscle cells connected with the neonate chondrocytes firmly. Neonate capillaries and micro blood vessels of various diameters were abundant in striated muscle stratum. Conclusion It is feasible to reconstruct dog trachea using prosthesis constructed with autogenous costal perichondrium.

Key words: reconstructive surgical procedures, transplantation, autogenous