Clinical application
Implantation of a bioartificial tissue into an airway defect.
Left: Pre-operative situation showing an extensive tracheaobronchial defect (the asterisk indicates the intact distal airway tube).
Right: Implanted bioartificial airway patch 3 months following transplantation showing perfect defect healing (arrow).
In 2003 the first clinical implantation of a bioartificial tissue was realized in cooperation with physicians of the Thoracic Surgery Unit of the Heidehaus-Hospital in Hannover by transplanting a bioartificial patch into an extensive tracheobronchial defect. We could show, that the bioartificial tissue heals unproblematically into the airway-tissue and that blood vessels deriving from the surrounding tissue infiltrate the bioartificial implant. The implant was lined with respiratory epithelium within 1 week – indicating the good biocompatibility of the bioartificial transplant tissue. The modulation and remodelling processes were finished after 3 months. There was no evidence of immunological rejection of the bioartificial implant. Further implantations for the treatment of tracheal and esophageal defects were performed in other patients.