@article{3130065,
    title = "Experimental replacement of pig trachea with novel bioprosthesis from harp Seal",
    author = "Agathos, E.A. and Tomos, P. and Lachanas, E. and Gakiopoulou, H. and Pantopoulou, A. and Perrea, D.",
    journal = "Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals",
    year = "2010",
    volume = "18",
    number = "6",
    pages = "557-562",
    issn = "0218-4923, 1816-5370",
    doi = "10.1177/0218492310387448",
    keywords = "glutaraldehyde;  fixative, animal experiment;  article;  bioprosthesis;  controlled study;  dyspnea;  in vivo study;  male;  nonhuman;  seal;  swine;  trachea;  trachea surgery;  animal;  evaluation;  foreign body reaction;  implantation;  instrumentation;  materials testing;  methodology;  pathology;  Phoca;  prosthesis;  thorax surgery;  time;  tissue fixation;  trachea;  trachea stenosis;  transplantation, Animals;  Bioprosthesis;  Fixatives;  Foreign-Body Reaction;  Glutaral;  Male;  Materials Testing;  Prosthesis Design;  Prosthesis Implantation;  Seals, Earless;  Swine;  Thoracic Surgical Procedures;  Time Factors;  Tissue Fixation;  Trachea;  Tracheal Stenosis",
    abstract = "Tracheal replacement has been a challenging problem for thoracic surgeons for over half of a century. We evaluated the in-vivo performance of a new tracheal bioprosthesis derived from Harp seal (Phoca groelandica) trachea that was fixed and preserved in 0.625% buffered glutaraldehyde solution for 3 months. Ten young male pigs weighing 27-32 kg (mean, 28.7 kg) underwent replacement of a tracheal segment with this new bioprosthesis. The length of replaced trachea was 1.8-2.4 cm (mean, 2.17 cm), representing 2-3 cartilage rings. All pigs survived the operation uneventfully. No immunosuppression drugs were used. The pigs eventually developed dyspnea and were euthanized on postoperative day 17-39 (mean, 30.8 days). Macroscopic and histological analysis showed an intact bioprosthesis but near-total occlusion of the native trachea by a ring of inflammatory infiltration at the site of distal anastomosis. More experiments involving a different concentration of the preservation agent, different management, and perhaps the use of bioengineering techniques are needed to improve the performance of this novel bioprosthesis. © 2010 SAGE Publications."
}