Isoelastic polyurethane prosthesis for segmental trachea replacement in beagle dogs.

Porous polyurethane (nonwoven) was used for the development of tracheal prosthesis, which--in a special testing design--was adapted to shape and biomechanic properties of the natural organ. This prosthesis was implanted into 19 beagle dogs using inverted, everted, and end-to-end anastomosis. Insufficiency of the anastomosis or infection was observed in the everted and end-to-end anastomosis, whereas the inverted anastomosis showed complete incorporation into surrounding tissue of the porous prosthesis but was complicated by airway obstruction due to anastomosis granuloma.