Tracheal reconstruction with a free vascularized myofascial flap: preclinical investigation in a porcine model to human clinical application

Kim, Won Shik; Chang, Jae Won; Jang, Woo Soon; Seo, Young Joon; Kang, Mi-Lan; Sung, Hak-Joon; Kim, Da Hee; Kim, Jung Min; Park, Jae Hong; Ban, Myung Jin; Na, Gina; Shin, Seung Ho; Byeon, Hyung Kwon; Koh, Yoon Woo; Kim, Se-Heon; Baik, Hong Koo; Choi, Eun Chang

doi:10.1038/s41598-017-10733-z

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Published: 30 August 2017

Tracheal reconstruction with a free vascularized myofascial flap: preclinical investigation in a porcine model to human clinical application

Won Shik Kim¹,
Jae Won Chang ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-6596-931X²,
Woo Soon Jang³,
Young Joon Seo⁴,
Mi-Lan Kang⁵,
Hak-Joon Sung^5,6,
Da Hee Kim¹,
Jung Min Kim¹,
Jae Hong Park⁷,
Myung Jin Ban ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-2069-2422⁷,
Gina Na¹,
Seung Ho Shin¹,
Hyung Kwon Byeon¹,
Yoon Woo Koh¹,
Se-Heon Kim¹,
Hong Koo Baik³ &
…
Eun Chang Choi¹

Scientific Reports volume 7, Article number: 10022 (2017) Cite this article

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Abstract

Although there are various methods for tracheal reconstruction, such as a simple approximation with suturing and coverage with adjacent soft tissue or muscle, large defects >50% of the tracheal length still present a clinical challenge. Tissue engineering, a recent promising way to possibly resolve this problem, requires a long preparatory period for stem cell seeding on a scaffold and relatively invasive procedures for stem cell harvesting. As an alternative, we used a vascularized myofascial flap for tracheal reconstruction. In four porcine models, the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) was used in two and the superior epigastric artery perforator (SEAP) in two. Transformation of the surface of the transplanted myofascial flap was analyzed in the airway environment. The flaps failed in the DIEP group due to venous congestion. At 12 weeks postoperatively, none of SEAP group showed any signs of respiratory distress; the inner surface of the implant exhibited stratified squamous epithelium with sparse cilia. In the clinical setting, a patient who underwent a tracheal reconstruction with a vascularized myofascial flap and 2-year follow-up was in good health with no respiratory distress symptoms.

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Introduction

The management of tracheal defects has long been a challenge. Defects of the trachea can develop in the management of tracheal stenosis after a tracheostomy or endotracheal intubation; moreover, malignancy may develop in the vicinity of the trachea or in the trachea itself. If the defect is small, an end-to-end anastomosis can be performed after segmental resection of the stenotic portion. However, an end-to-end anastomosis is impossible for defects >50% of the total tracheal length. Thus, alternative methods for the management of long tracheal defects have been studied for many years. In 1979, Rose et al. performed the first reported allogeneic tracheal transplant in humans¹. However, this method requires a suitable donor and life-long immunosuppressive agents. Methods using autologous tissues, including the esophagus and aortic grafts as a tracheal substitute, were also studied^2,3,4,5. However, these methods have major disadvantages that include harvest-related morbidity and donor site complications. Thus, alternative methods using foreign materials or tissue engineering technology have been pursued. In 2005, Delaere et al. reported their management for restenosis following anastomosis after segmental resection of the trachea⁶. They used a buccal mucosal-lined fascial flap for a partial tracheal defect that developed after a longitudinal incision of the trachea for widening the tracheal lumen diameter. For vascularization of the neo-trachea, a radial forearm free flap was used. However, this procedure required temporary tracheal stenting with a silicone stent. In 2008, Macchiarini et al. reported the successful clinical transplantation of a tissue-engineered airway, which was an assembly of MHC-deprived donor trachea, the recipient’s autologous epithelial cells, and the recipient’s autologous chondrocytes⁷. However, the patient underwent intermittent bronchoscopic interventions and required repeated endoluminal stenting for progressive cicatricial stenosis, according to the 5-year follow-up results⁸. Their method also required long preparatory work, including the search for a suitable donor, harvesting of autologous cells, and assembling these materials using a bioreactor.

In this study, we investigated the feasibility of tracheal reconstruction with a vascularized myofascial flap, using a deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) or superior epigastric artery perforator (SEAP) flap in a preclinical porcine model with a partial tracheal defect. We previously provided a preliminary report of a human case in which we applied the technique using a vascularized muscle fascia from an anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap to reconstruct a partial tracheal defect that developed during the surgical management of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) invading the trachea⁹. Here, we also report 2-year follow-up data for that patient. This study establishes a theoretical foundation for the feasibility of tracheal reconstruction using a vascularized myofascial flap.

Results

Free vascularized myofascial flap model for the reconstruction of a tracheal defect in a porcine model

We performed tracheal reconstructions using a DIEP flap in two pigs and a SEAP flap in two pigs (Table 1). The sizes of tracheal defects in these animals ranged from 54 to 72 mm², and the skin paddle sizes of the flap from 32 to 40 cm² (Fig. 1). Animals were euthanized at 12 weeks after the initial operation, with the exception of one pig in the DIEP group who expired on postoperative day 4 for an unidentified reason. This pig showed flap failure due to venous congestion before expiry. A second pig in the DIEP group showed flap failure also due to venous congestion and was euthanized on postoperative day 7. Thus, use of the DIEP flap was apparently not feasible in this study and in two other cases not included in the study. The cause of flap failure was venous outflow obstruction in all cases. One pig in the SEAP flap group showed donor site dehiscence, which was managed with frequent dressing changes. The flaps in the SEAP group survived, and the general condition of all animals in this group was normal until the planned euthanasia at postoperative day 84.

Table 1 Tracheal reconstruction results with a free vascularized myofascial flap model

Full size table

Bronchoscopic evaluation

Immediately after the operation, bronchoscopy revealed a pinkish muscle fascia sutured to the tracheal defect (Fig. 2A). There were some suture knots located inside the trachea. The pinkish color of muscle fascia indicated successful restoration of blood circulation of the myofascial flap, translocated into the cervical area. SEAP group showed a yellowish secretion around the reconstructed tracheal defect at postoperative day 7 (Fig. 2B). However, there were no sign of respiratory distress throughout the entire experimental period. A smooth intraluminal lining was observed, without stenosis or granulation, at postoperative day 84 (Fig. 2C). As shown in Fig. 2D, DIEP group which dropped out from the study, showed much more yellowish secretion than SEAP group. However, tracheal lumen compromise was not observed in the DIEP group, either.

Serial changes in exteriorized monitoring skin paddle

Immediately after the operation, the monitoring skin paddle of the SEAP flap showed a pinkish coloration (Fig. 3A). The monitoring skin paddle was intact, and swelling in the anterior midline neck was observed at postoperative day 7 (Fig. 3B). The color of the monitoring skin paddle was similar to that of the surrounding neck skin and the swelling disappeared by postoperative day 84 (Fig. 3C). A gradual decrease in swelling of the anterior midline neck occurred over the experimental period. The nipple contained in the skin paddle of the SEAP flap was present in the anterior neck until euthanasia. As shown in Fig. 3D, skin paddle of the DIEP group changed dark due to venous change and dropped out following study.

Histological evaluation

A tracheal specimen was harvested at postoperative day 84, together with the overlying myofascial flap, and a vertical incision was made to visualize the lumen (Fig. 4). The intraluminal surface of the neo-trachea was smooth, with no granulation.

Light microscopic findings were evaluated after hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Mucociliary epithelium was noted on the fibrous connective tissue in the normal tracheal lumen (Fig. 5A). At higher magnification (×400), pseudostratified columnar epithelium with cilia was observed (Fig. 5B). Epithelial cells with scanty cilia were present in the muscular fiber tissue in the neo-tracheal lumen (Fig. 5C). The surface of the neo-trachea was evaluated at high magnification (×400), and stratified squamous epithelium without cilia was evident (Fig. 5D). A transition zone between the normal trachea and the neo-trachea was observed (Fig. 5E and F) and the cartilaginous tissue was faced with a muscular fibrous tissue. A transition zone between the muscular fibrous tissues of the neo-trachea and the cartilaginous tissue of the normal trachea was revealed at high magnification (×200; Fig. 5F) indicating histologic niche of reconstructed defect of trachea (cartilaginous tissue) through free vascularized flap (muscular fiber).

Scanning electron microscopy

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was performed on the harvested trachea. The surface of the normal trachea was crowded with many cilia (Fig. 6A). A high-magnification image of the surface of the normal trachea revealed relatively healthy ciliated epithelium (Fig. 6B). The surface of the neo-trachea near the transition zone, between the normal trachea and the neo-trachea, revealed scanty cilia (Fig. 6C). A high-magnification image of the surface of the neo-trachea revealed a relatively firm epithelial ultrastructure (Fig. 6D). However, a sparse ciliary structure was also observed. In a small area of the neo-trachea, a dysmorphic surface was noted (Fig. 6E). A magnified view of this dysmorphic area showed no ciliary structure (Fig. 6F).

Transmission electron microscopy

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was performed to evaluate a vertical section image of the normal trachea and the neo-trachea. The normal trachea revealed pseudostratified, columnar ciliated epithelium (Fig. 7A). A high-magnification image of the normal trachea showed cilia (Figs. 7B,C). The neo-trachea revealed stratified squamous epithelium with scanty cilia (Fig. 7D). High-magnification images of the neo-trachea also showed scanty but clearly present cilia (Fig. 7E,F).

Human tracheal reconstruction case

Thyroid cancer had invaded the tracheal mucosa of our patient, primarily on the left side (Fig. 8A). After tumor removal, the tracheal defect was reconstructed using a vascularized myofascial flap from the ALT (Fig. 8B). At postoperative month 24, the patient did well without no discomfort in tracheobronchial toilet or breathing difficulties and flexible endoscopy revealed no evidence of recurrence, tracheal stenosis, or tracheal granulation (Fig. 8C). The exteriorized skin paddle of the ALT was taken between the anterior cervical incision (Fig. 8D).

Discussion

There have been tremendous efforts to manage tracheal defects, by many methods and technologies^{10, 11}. Among the suggested methods, a tracheal allograft requires a timely donor and a lifetime of immunosuppressants, limiting its common application in the management of tracheal defects caused by malignancies¹². An autograft, such as an esophagus or aortic graft, can be a good alternative, in terms of biocompatibility; however, donor site morbidity is not negligible^4,5,6. Tracheal reconstruction using artificial materials has shown unpredictable results¹⁰. There is a continuing unmet need in the area of the tracheal reconstruction for long segmental defects that cannot be managed with end-to-end anastomosis¹³. One of the current concepts in the management of such long segmental defects is the assembly of a biocompatible scaffold and patient-derived stem cells^{10, 14}. Recently, there have been significant advances in tissue engineering and the reconstruction of tracheal defects. Many researchers in the field of tissue engineering have used cell seeding on biocompatible scaffolds, with promising results¹⁰. However, the shortcomings of this method include the stem cell-harvesting procedure, stem cell seeding on the scaffold using a bioreactor, and the consequent delay in timely reconstruction^{10, 13}.

Delaere et al. successfully reconstructed tracheal defects by applying a vascularized fascia and buccal mucosa; their idea that a mucosalized fascia could be a solid substitute for a tracheal luminal surface was the foundation of our study⁶. Additionally, our group reported a successful case of tracheal defect reconstruction that developed during the surgical management of thyroid cancer using a vascularized myofascial flap⁹. The description of the histological changes in the translocated fascia directly contacting the air was the primary endpoint of this study. The long-term result of our clinical experience in tracheal reconstruction using a vascularized myofascial flap was a secondary endpoint. We expected the mucosal transformation of the myofascial surface in coping with the air passage and were hopeful that ciliary regeneration would occur from the edge between the transplanted fascia and the surrounding normal mucosa of the trachea. According to the histological results with the porcine model, a transformation to epithelial mucosa was noted, although ciliary regeneration was not achieved fully. Nevertheless, in the selected area of the neo-trachea, ciliary structures were undoubtedly observed and confirmed in immunohistochemistry using cilia specific marker (Supplementary Fig. S1). Certainly, we believe that most of these respiratory epithelial cells migrated from the adjacent normal tracheal mucosa on to the implanted tissue to form functional respiratory epithelium. However, given the presence of stem cells in fascia¹⁵ and the fact that the respiratory epithelium can be induced in stem cells¹⁶, we can extrapolate that partial regeneration of the respiratory epithelium in our data may be originated from the stem cells of the transplanted fascial system. In addition, considering the relatively short experimental time period (12 weeks), this result can reasonably be extrapolated to the complete transformation of the transplanted mucosa to airway-compatible structures. The results from both the animal model and the human case are consistent with that extrapolation. The animal model of the SEAP flap showed no sign of airway distress and generally healthy conditions until the planned euthanasia. In the human case, the patient continues to breathe without difficulty; there have been no issues, to date, in terms of bronchial toilet as of the last follow-up 25 months postoperatively.

A limitation of this study is the small defect size in the animal model. Clinically, this small tracheal defect could be managed readily with coverage, using adjacent muscle and soft tissues. We attempted to determine the transformation of the surface of the ectopically transplanted myofascial surface in the environment of the airway and the bronchial secretion passage. Thus, the findings of this study provide a foundation for future application of the vascularized myofascial flap in the reconstruction of a circumferential tracheal defect.

In addition, it is difficult to make a reliable comparison because of the small sample size of each group, although it was due to the unexpected flap failure of DIEP group. However, despite the small sample size of this study, we provide a proof-of-concept for the feasibility of free flap grafts for use in tracheal reconstruction. The possible cause of our unexpected failure of DIEP group may be because the diameter of pedicles (1.1~1.3 mm for artery, 0.6~0.7 mm for vena comitans) in DIEP group were smaller than that of SEAP group (1.7~2.2 mm for artery, 1.8~2.4 mm for vena comitans). This caused technological difficulties in venous anastomosis, resulting in venous outflow obstruction leading to flap failure.

Another weakness of the study is the obscurity of the transformation mechanism of the transplanted myofascial flap surface. Histological analysis showed that stratified squamous epithelium and dysmorphic epithelium existed simultaneously on the transplanted surface. The transformation could have started from the edge of the myofascial flap, with the influence of the adjacent normal tracheal mucosa, or could be the result of environmental stimuli, including high-pressure air passage through the transplanted myofascial surface. We could not further study the serial timeline changes due to small numbers of animals and the small size of the defect, which limited the ability to take serial tracheal biopsies. Follow-up studies should focus on the transformation mechanism of the ectopically transplanted myofascial flap.

In conclusion, tracheal reconstruction with a free vascularized myofascial flap was shown to be feasible in this study. The surface of the transplanted myofascial flap transformed into epithelium with sparse cilia. There was no tracheal granulation or stenosis in both an animal model and in clinical application. These results can provide a foundation for the application of free vascularized myofascial flaps in the management of long segmental tracheal defects. Follow-up studies are necessary to determine the transformation mechanism of the transplanted myofascial flap in the airway.

Methods

Animal model and surgical procedure

Four female Yorkshire pigs, weighing 25–30 kg, were obtained from XP Bio, Seoul, Korea. The study was approved by the Department of Laboratory Animal Resources, Yonsei Biomedical Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, which is accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International. We followed the guidelines for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals of the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources Commission on Life Sciences National Research Council, USA.

All pigs were acclimated for 1 week before the operation. Before general anesthesia, the pigs fasted for over 12 h. Anesthesia was started with an intramuscular injection of the mixture of alfaxan 1 mg/kg, xylazine 2 mg/kg, and azaperone 2 mg/kg. After securing an intravenous (IV) route, ketorolac 1 mg/kg was injected via the IV line. Atropine 0.04 mg/kg and cefazolin 30 mg/kg were administered intramuscularly. After the anterior neck and the abdomen of the pig were shaved, intubation with an orotracheal tube was performed. The anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane 2%. With a vertical midline incision in the anterior neck, the strap muscles were dissected and retracted laterally. The trachea was exposed from the first ring to the thoracic inlet. The common carotid artery and the internal jugular vein were exposed and prepared for the anastomosis. The window was made in the 2nd or 3rd tracheal cartilage, ~1 cm in width. The endotracheal tube was still in place, bypassing the tracheal defect, and aeration through the tube was continued using the ventilator. The DIEP or the SEAP flap harvest was performed, according to the method described by Bodin et al.¹⁷. For the DIEP flap, an elliptical vertical skin paddle was incised on the inferior abdomen. The skin flap was elevated from the rectus abdominis muscle sheath with preservation of the perforators to the skin flap. Small inferior epigastric vessels were identified and preserved. For the SEAP flap, a longitudinal elliptical skin paddle was designed on the upper abdomen (Fig. 1A). After flap elevation, intramuscular dissection of the perforators from the superior epigastric vessels was performed (Fig. 1B). The harvested flap contained the skin, the subcutaneous tissue, the muscle with fascia, and the superior epigastric artery with venae comitantes (Fig. 1C). A microvascular anastomosis was performed to the previously identified carotid artery and the internal jugular vein (Fig. 1D). Then, the tracheal window was covered and sutured with the muscle fascia of the DIEP or the SEAP flap using Vicryl (Ethicon, Germany) 3-0. A skin paddle of the DIEP or the SEAP flap was exteriorized and sutured to the cervical midline skin incision. The abdominal skin incision was closed. After finishing the surgical procedure, the pigs received peroral amoxicillin-clavulanate 14 mg/kg and meloxicam 0.2 mg/kg, as antibiotics and pain management, respectively, for 1 week.