Experimental study with gianturco stent in the trachea of rabbit

An expendable stainless steel stent was formulated for use in treatment of tracheobronchial stenosis, tracheomalacia and air way collapse following tracheal reconstruction. The stents were placed throughout an endobronchial tube into the trachea of 20 healthy rabbits. Two different of sizes (10mm, A type and 20mm, B type in diameter and length) and two kinds of shapes (standard, A and B and modified, A' and B' with barbs) were used. Group I were used with A and A' type stents and group II were used with B and B' types. The animals were observed under fluoroscopy and findings were later confirmed at autopsy. With the exception of 2 cases where the stents migrated. 1 case in A subgroup and A' and an inflammatory reaction was noted in each animal. Group II rabbits were almost died within 2-4 weeks after stent placement. In the comparison of the pathohistologic findings between group I and II, the tissue necrosis at the sites of stent placement in trachea is more severe and extensive in group II than that of group I, and also reactive fibroblastic reaction is more severe in group II. So the thickness of the tracheal wall in group II is two or three times thicker than that of group I which seems to be a result of reactive fibrosis. So, A and A' type stent is safer than B and B' type stent in normal rabbit trachea. It is advisable to use stents in diameter under 2 times to tracheal width and the complication of stent placement in trachea may be reduced for appropriate reconstruction of stenotic lesion