Tubular e-PTFE implants in glottal and neoglottal insufficiency: tolerance and stability in an animal model.

The aim of our research is to develop a laryngeal tissue augmentation technique that will be useful in treating glottal and neoglottal insufficiency. In a previous study the feasibility of insertion of tubular expanded poly-tetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) tissue implants into the larynx of a porcine model was demonstrated. In this paper we report the clinical, endoscopic, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance image (MRI) and histopathological follow-up findings. These results demonstrate host tolerance of the implant over the period of study (six months) with little tissue reactivity to tubular e-PTFE implants in the porcine model. The tubular shape of the implant enhances stabilization by the rapid and complete host tissue penetration of the implant's interstices, making tubular e-PTFE a potentially useful soft tissue augmentation material for laryngeal incompetence.