THE EFFECTS OF SURGICAL ISOLATION AND APPLICATION OF POLYPROPYLENE SPIRAL PROSTHESES ON TRACHEAL BLOOD-FLOW

Tracheal blood flow before and after division of the segmental tracheal blood supply with and without application of a polypropylene spiral prosthesis was measured in dogs by radiolabeled microsphere injection. Ischemia of the central part of the trachea, from the mid-cervical to mid-thoracic regions, was observed immediately after division of the segmental tracheal blood supply with and without polypropylene spiral prosthesis application. On day 3, tracheal blood flow was significantly decreased in the central part of the trachea with and without polypropylene spiral prosthesis application. On day 7, tracheal blood flow was significantly increased throughout the trachea, with no significant differences between animals with and without prosthesis application. There was no evidence of a collateral source of blood supply to the trachea. Surgical division of the segmental tracheal blood supply of the entire trachea is not recommended.