Transplantationstechnologien und Forschung

Human Tracheal Allograft Banking: A Singapore Experience and Review on Recent Progress

Abstract

Wee Ling HENG

While experimental studies on tracheal transplantation are numerous, these have failed to translate into wider clinical application due to various factors. This review discusses on the current techniques of processing, decontamination and storage of human tracheal allografts for clinical transplantation. We also present our lack of success in our attempt in tracheal allograft banking. With few allografts available for research, it is difficult to validate the effectiveness of various decontamination and preservation protocols. Some tissue banks adopt the use of controversial chemicals and irradiation for decontamination. While these methods may completely eliminate the risk of transmission of infectious diseases and micro-organisms, their effect on the integrity of the allograft and possible long-term side-effects to the patients remains unknown.