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This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Jacques F. Azorin Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Azorin, J. F. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Azorin, J. F. Related Collections Trachea and bronchi

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2006;30:202
© 2006 Elsevier Science NL

Letter to the Editor

Reply to Szanto and Molnar About tracheal replacement with an aortic autograft

Avicenne Hospital, Paris XIII University, 125 Stalingrad av, 93000 Bobigny, France

Received 17 March 2006; accepted 20 March 2006.

^_* Tel.: +33 1 48955231; fax: +33 1 48955232. (Email: jacques.azorin{at}avc.aphp.fr).

Key Words: Tracheal replacement • Aortic autograft • Vascular anastomosis

We would like to thank Dr Tomas Molnar [1] for his comments.

His study on dogs and rabbits uses a ringed vascular prothesis which probably explains the overgrowth of granulation tissue at the junction of the trachea and the prothesis and this, whatever be the technique of anastomosis used.

In our series, the use of an intraluminal silicone stent (Novatech) overlapping the anastomosis has not led to the overgrowth of granulation tissue. Actually, we even fix the silicone stent to lock the trachea and the aortic graft with non-absorbable sutures thus preventing any stent migration.

Concerning the technique used for the trachea-aortic graft anastomosis, we have observed that both structures are approximately of the same diameter and are quite elastic, allowing in all cases, a simple, circular end-to-end anastomosis. We use a continuous large-spaced, tension-free non-ischaemic suture with an absorbable thread.

Finally, we now explain the development of cartilagineous tissue in the neotrachea by the colonization of the aortic graft by host-stem cells with later differentiate into mature cartilagineous rings.

I hope that we have answered your questions.

References

1. Szanto Z, Molnar TF. Geometry of the edges of the tracheal anastomosis: is it an important issue? Eur J Cardiothor Surg 2006;30:199–203..

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Jacques F. Azorin Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Azorin, J. F. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Azorin, J. F. Related Collections Trachea and bronchi