Vascularized auricular perichondrium in airway reconstruction: the effects of stenting with and without a mucosal graft.

This study quantitatively examines the effects of laryngotracheal stenting with and without mucosal grafting on chondrogenesis in a rabbit model. Vascularized auricular perichondrium was transferred to a cricothyroid membrane (CTM) defect in three groups of New Zealand white rabbits: group A, CTM defect alone; group B, CTM defect with endotracheal tube stent; and group C, CTM defect with a buccal mucosa graft (BMG) interposed between the stent and perichondrium. The rabbits were sacrificed at 7 weeks for histologic examination and determination of cartilage thickness by digitometry. Chondrogenesis was not significantly affected by stenting (n = 11; 0.719 mm +/- 0.203 mm) or by BMG (n = 12; 0.775 mm +/- 0.203 mm) as compared with controls (n = 14; 0.695 mm +/- 0.216 mm) (P value = not significant). Laryngotracheal stenting and BMG do not adversely influence chondrogenesis in airway reconstruction with vascularized perichondrium in the rabbit model. The application of these principles in human airway reconstruction is discussed.