Premium
Tracheal Transplantation: Superior and Inferior Thyroid Artery Perfusion Territory
Author(s) -
Salmeron Jesse,
Gan Patrick J.,
Blackwell Keith E.,
Shaari Christopher M.,
Urken Mark L.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/00005537-199806000-00013
Subject(s) - inferior thyroid artery , superior thyroid artery , medicine , perfusion , transplantation , thyroid , cardiology , recurrent laryngeal nerve
Objective: To determine the perfusion territories of the superior and inferior thyroid arteries in humans. Tracheal transplantation is a potential option for management of long‐segment tracheal stenosis. However, the maximum length of vascularized trachea that can be reliably transplanted has not been established. Study Design: The tracheal vascular territory of individual superior and inferior thyroid arteries was determined separately in 10 humans postmortem. Methods: India ink was infused unilaterally under controlled pressure into the superior (n = 5) and inferior (n = 5) thyroid arteries of cadaveric tracheas. Tracheas were sectioned longitudinally and the caudalmost extent of mucosal dye staining was determined via microscopic assessment. Results: The tracheal perfusion territory of the superior thyroid artery was two to five rings (1.7 ± 0.5 cm) and the inferior thyroid artery, nine to 13 rings (6.5 ± 1.1 cm). In both cases, the tracheal mucosa on the contralateral side was stained to the same caudal level. Conclusions: The inferior thyroid artery was shown to perfuse the trachea maximally to the 13th ring (8.1 cm). As such, the unilateral inferior thyroid artery would serve as a suitable vascular component for long‐segment tracheal transplantation in humans.