STUDY DESIGN: Experimental. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Tracheal homograft was performed in 51 guinea pigs (cavia porcellus) in order to study the graft epithelization. RESULTS: After the transplant procedure we observed reepithelization of the graft which initiated from the recipient trachea. The new formed epithelium was of squamous type and had 1 to 3 cell layers and was observed in animals with 3, 7 and 14 days after the surgical procedure. Respiratory epithelium with cilia was present with 60 and 120 days after the transplant. Cartilage absorption close to the tracheal anastomosis was the cause of partial tracheal stenosis in some animals. No clinical repercussion was noted due to this partial stenosis. Our conclusion was that tracheal homograft is an efficient surgical procedure for tracheal reconstruction.
stenosis; epithelial alterations; tracheal homograf
