Objective To study the protective effects and mechanism of intermittent ventilation on lung injury during cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB). Methods Twenty-four patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) were divided into two groups with random number table: treatment group (n=13),given intermittent ventilation once every 5 minutes during CPB; control group (n=11),no ventilation during CPB. Blood samples were obtained preoperatively. A bronchoalveolar lavage was performed at 2 hours after CPB. The numbers of granulocytes, total protein (TP) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) content in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids(BALF) were measured, and lung oxygenate index (OI) were measured preoperatively and 1 hour, 4 hours after CPB termination,respectively. Results The numbers of granulocytes, TP and TNF-α content of treatment group in the BALF were significantly lower than those of the control group (Plt;0.01, P=0.02,0.02),and the lung OI of treatment group at 1 hour and 4 hours after CPB termination was also significantly lower than that of the control group(Plt;0.05); a significant increase of lung OI occurred in both groups at 1 hour and 4 hours after CPB when compared with the same group at baseline before CPB(Plt;0.05). Conclusion Intermittent ventilation has the protective effects on lung injury during CPB by decreasing granulocytes adhesion and alleviating lung inflammatory reaction and endothelial cells injury.
Objective To study the reconstruction method and effectiveness of titanium plate and Teflon patch for the chest wall after resection of sternal tumors. Methods Between October 2006 and November 2009, 4 patients with sternal tumors were treated and the thoracic cages were reconstructed. There were 2 males and 2 females, aged 30-55 years. The patientswere admitted because of chest lump or pain. The sizes of palpable lump ranged from 4 cm × 3 cm to 10 cm × 8 cm. CT examination showed bone destruction. After sternal tumor resection, defect size ranged from 10 cm × 8 cm to 18 cm × 14 cm, and titanium plate and Teflon patch were used to repair and reconstruct the chest wall defect. Results The operations of the tumor resection and reconstruction of chest wall defect were successfully performed in 4 cases. Incisions healed by first intention with no abnormal breath, subcutaneous emphysema, pneumothorax, and infection. One case failed to be followed up after 6 months; 1 case died of intracranial hemorrhage; and 2 cases were followed up 1 and 4 years respectively without tumor recurrence. The chest wall had good remodel ing. No loosening and exposure of titanium plate, difficulty in breathing, chest distress, and chest pain were observed during followup. Conclusion Surgical resection of sternal tumors will cause large chest wall defect which can be repaired by titanium plate and Teflon patch because it had the advantages of easy operation, satisfactory remodel ing, and less compl ication.
Objective To construct a new composite artificial trachea and to investigate the feasibility of trachea repair and reconstruction with the new composite artificial trachea transplantation in dogs. Methods The basic skeleton of the new composite artificial trachea was polytetrafluoroethylene vascular prosthesis linked with titanium rings at both ends. Dualmesh was sutured on titanium rings. Sixteen dogs, weighing (14.9 ± 2.0) kg, female or male, were selected. The 5 cm cervical trachea was resected to prepare the cervical trachea defect model. The trachea repair and reconstruction was performed with the new composite artificial trachea. Then fiberoptic bronchoscope examination, CT scan and three-dimensinal reconstruction were conducted at immediate, 1 month, and 6 months after operation. Gross observation and histological examination were conducted at 14 months to evaluate the repair and reconstruction efficacy. Results No dog died during operation of trachea reconstruction. One dog died of dyspnea at 37, 41, 55, 66, 140, and 274 days respectively because of anastomotic dehiscence and artificial trachea displacement; the other 10 dogs survived until 14 months. The fiberoptic bronchoscope examination, CT scan and three-dimensinal reconstruction showed that artificial tracheas were all in good location without twisting at immediate after operation; mild stenosis occurred and anastomoses had slight granulation in 6 dogs at 1 month; severe stenosis developed and anastomosis had more granulation in 1 dog and the other dogs were well alive without anastomotic stenosis at 6 months. At 14 months, gross observation revealed that outer surface of the artificial trachea were encapsulated by fibrous connective tissue in all of 10 dogs. Histological examination showed inflammatory infiltration and hyperplasia of fibrous tissue and no epithelium growth on the inner wall of the artificial trachea. Conclusion The new composite artificial trachea can be used to repair and reconstruct defect of the trachea for a short-term. Anastomotic infection and dehiscence are major complications and problems affecting long survival.
We developed and designed a new type of artificial trachea. The basic structure of the artificial trachea was polytetrafluoroethylene vascular prosthesis linked with titanium rings on both sides. Dualmesh was sutured on titanium rings. This experimentation follows the replacement of trachea in dogs with a combined artificial trachea to investigate the feasibility of this type of prosthesis. Sixteen dogs were implanted with the combined artificial trachea after resection of 5 cm of cervical trachea. The 5 cm-long trachea of dogs on the necks were resected and the reconstruction of the defect of the trachea was performed with trachea prosthesis. According to the method of trachea reconstruction, the models were divided into 2 groups, artificial trachea implantation group (the control group, n=8) and group of artificial trachea implantation with growth factor (the experimental group, n=8). Then computer tomography scan (CT), bronchoscope and pathologic examination were conducted periodically to observe the healing state of the hybrid artificial trachea. None of the dogs died during operation of cervical segmental trachea construction. But four dogs in the control group died of apnea in succession because artificial trachea was displaced and the lumen was obstructed, while 2 dogs died in the experimental group. In the first month there was granulation around anastomosis with slight stenosis. The rest of dogs were well alive until they were sacrificed 14 months later. The mean survival time of the experimental group was longer than that of the control group. The rate of infection, anastomotic dehiscence, severe stenosis and accidental death in the experimental group were lower than the control group (P<0.05).Artificial trachea was encapsulated by fibrous tissue and no mucous membrane was seen in the lumen of the artificial trachea. The artificial trachea can be used to reconstruction of the defect of the trachea with long-term survival of the animals. The unique design of artificial trachea reduces stenosis around anastomosis effectively but infections and split or displacement of the artificial trachea are still major problems affecting long-term survival of the animals. Application of growth factors to a certain extent promotes tissue healing by changing the local environment.