A study of tracheal prostheses produced by composite laminate fabrication method<i>In vitro</i>: biodegradation and <i>In-vivo</i> implantation experiments

Abstract

Natural tracheal may become defective due to, among other things, abnormal narrowing or fistulas, direct or indirect result of accidents or narrowing caused by  inflammation. In an acute situation when direct   anastomoses (cross-connection) cannot be made, tracheal prostheses are often needed to bridge the defects.  This study reports in-vitro biodegradation and in-vivo implantation studies on prosthetic tracheal composite specimens  fabricated by filament winding. The  tracheal prostheses fabricated with biocompatible polymeric fibre and matrix materials that were either biodegradable or non-biodegradable, were used and  assessed for their  performance. The study revealed that the characteristics of the tracheal prostheses were controlled by the  fibre volume fraction and the  proportion and combination sequences of the biodegradable and  non-biodegradable components of the mixed matrix. The in-vivo implantation showed fairly  satisfactory results in satisfying the stringent mechanical requirements imposed by nature in natural tracheas. Although relatively short survival   periodswere  observed in the animals used, after eliminating mechanical design as a cause of failure, failure could be said to have occurred due mainly to insufficient tissue  growth onto the prostheses.

Keywords: Trachea,  Biocompatibility, Filament Winding, in-vitro Degradation, in-vivo Implantation, Block Copolymer.