Trachea repair using an autologous pericardial patch combined with a 3D carbon fiber stent: A case report

This study is the first to use an autologous pericardial patch combined with a 3D carbon fiber stent for the plastic repair of a large trachea defect. Radical surgery is the optimal therapy for primary malignant tracheal tumors. Tracheoplasty or repair is required to guarantee trachea integrity and normal ventilation function after tracheal tumor resection. Here, we present a case of plastic repair of the trachea using an autologous pericardial patch and a 3D custom-made carbon fiber stent. A 4 cm trachea defect was successfully repaired after resecting a malignant schwannoma. The postoperative ventilatory function was normal without obvious symptoms of discomfort. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed a smooth mucosal surface of the endotracheal wall and patency of the airway. CT scans performed 3 years after surgery showed no recurrence. Therefore, we can conclude that a 3D carbon fiber stent is feasible for abolishing patch floating and preventing tracheal stenosis.

A Review of Woven Tracheal Stents: Materials, Structures, and Application

The repair and reconstruction of tracheal defects is a challenging clinical problem. Due to the wide choice of materials and structures, weaving technology has shown unique advantages in simulating the multilayer structure of the trachea and providing reliable performance. Currently, most woven stent-based stents focus only on the effect of materials on stent performance while ignoring the direct effect of woven process parameters on stent performance, and the advantages of weaving technology in tissue regeneration have not been fully exploited. Therefore, this review will introduce the effects of stent materials and fabric construction on the performance of tracheal stents, focusing on the effects of weaving process parameters on stent performance. We will summarize the problems faced by woven stents and possible directions of development in the hope of broadening the technical field of artificial trachea preparation.