Histopathologic changes after pericardial patch tracheoplasty.

Pericardial patch tracheoplasty has been used for surgical correction of long-segment congenital tracheal stenosis caused by complete tracheal rings in infants. The case histories of 2 infants with descriptions of the histopathologic changes in their respective tracheas are presented. Complete reepithelialization of the graft site with ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium was found, suggesting the likelihood of normal mucociliary flow in the trachea. The pericardial patches were replaced by mature scar tissue in the graft site, establishing a functional tracheal lumen. Wound healing in the trachea is reviewed. Obstruction by exuberant granulation tissue is an ongoing concern. Pericardium continues to be an important option as graft material for tracheal reconstruction in infants with long-segment congenital tracheal stenosis.