Laryngotracheal stenosis remains as one of the most vexing problems in the otolaryngology. It handled with various methods such as mechenical dilatation, luminal augumentation, end to end anastomosis and tissue graft technique but their effect were not enough to satisfy. The use of tissue as a graft material has been reported since 1865. Costal cartilage autograft have been used successfully for the treatment of subglottic stenosis. However, the question lie in sufficient quantity or sutible shape. Free tracheal homograft have been used with little success because of immunologic rejection and breakdown secondary to infection. In 1989, George. H. Zalzal et al reported the satisfactory results of a study of irradiated tracheal cartilage homograft to resected segments of trachea in rabbits. But it is not economic and takes too much time. We performed experimental tracheal cartilage homograft using immunologically sterilized tracheal cartilage which was treated chemically. It provided stable supporting framework and sufficient amount of donor graft materials with less immunological and economic problems. A study of the feasibility of using chemically treated tracheal cartilage grafts in repair of tracheal stenosis reveals that the cartilage transplantation technique may provide a real alternative for management.
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