Cricoid arch replacement in dogs. Further studies.

Published reports by Delahunty et al and Alonso et al described the feasibility of correcting subglottic defects with cricoid arch transplantation. Using normal dogs, satisfactory results, including airway patency and vocal cord function, were reported. This report describes a second series of dogs in which subglottic stenosis was first induced by an open procedure and was subsequently repaired with an allotransplanted cricoid arch. The resulting subglottic defect in the donor dogs was repaired by autogenous hyoid arch transposition. No immunosuppressive measures or stents were used in either group. The animals were followed for periods up to one year prior to histologic study. Satisfactory results were obtained in both groups.