The first vascularized tracheal allotransplantation was performed in 2008. Immunosuppression was stopped after forearm implantation and grafting of the recipient mucosa to the internal site of the transplant. Nine months after forearm implantation, the allograft was transplanted to the tracheal defect on the radial blood vessels. Since then, four additional patients have undergone tracheal allotransplantation, three (patients 2-4) for long-segment stenosis and one (patient 5) for a low-grade chondrosarcoma. Our goal was to reduce the time between forearm implantation and orthotopic transplantation and to determine a protocol for safe withdrawal of immunosuppressive therapy. Following forearm implantation, all transplants became fully revascularized over 2 months. Withdrawal of immunosuppression began 4 months after graft implantation and was completed within 6 weeks in cases 2-4. Repopulation of the mucosal lining by recipient cells, to compensate for the necrosis of the donor mucosa, was not complete. This resulted in partial loss of the allotransplant in patients 2-4. In patient 5, additional measures promoting recipient cell repopulation were made. The trachea may be used as a composite tissue allotransplant after heterotopic revascularization in the forearm. Measures to maximize recipient cell repopulation may be important in maintaining the viability of the transplant after cessation of immunosuppression.

The titanium Kurz TTP-Variac System PORP is an effective prosthesis to reconstruct the ossicular chain. Complications are rare, illustrating the safety of the prosthesis.

The aggressive SDC is increasingly diagnosed. Despite intensive combined surgery and radiation therapy, many patients recur, for whom new bullets, targeting the molecular biological mechanisms, are the subject of ongoing clinical trials.

Purpose: To identify different endoscopic techniques for treatment of idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS) and evaluate treatment results. Methods: Embase and Cochrane Library were searched for publications on endoscopically treated iSGS. Identified interventions included procedures with cold knife, dilation (rigid or balloon), or laser (CO 2 or Nd:YAG), used in several combinations and supplemented with mitomycin C and/or corticosteroids. Primary endpoint was time interval between successive endoscopic procedures. Secondary endpoints were stenosis recurrence rate, total number of interventions per patient during follow-up, tracheotomy rate, and rate of open surgery. Results: Eighty-six abstracts were reviewed and 15 series were included in the analysis. Mean sample size was 57 subjects (range 10-384, σ 90.84) and mean age was 47 years (range 36-54, σ 4.45). Time interval ranged from 2 to 21 months [weighted mean (WM): 12]. Rate of stenosis recurrence ranged from 40 to 100% (WM: 68%). Mean amount of interventions per patient varied between 1.8 and 8.3 (WM: 3.7). Tracheotomy rate varied between 0 and 26% (WM: 7%) and rate of open surgery varied between 0 and 27% (WM: 10%). Single modality CO 2 lasering showed highest rate of recurrence, highest amount of interventions, and shortest time interval. Combined techniques generated overall better outcomes. Conclusions: A multitude of endoscopic techniques are being used for treating iSGS, all with a considerable recurrence rate. In this review, no superior modality could be identified. Consequently, endoscopic management could be considered a valuable primary treatment option for iSGS, but open surgery still plays an important role.