Platelet-rich plasma for laryngotracheal reconstruction: an experimental study.

Objectives/hypothesis: This study was designed to evaluate the graft healing effect of topical application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR) in a rabbit model.

Study Design: It is a prospective randomized control animal study.

Materials And Methods: Sixteen healthy New Zealand White rabbits were assigned to two groups of eight animals each. The control group underwent LTR with anterior auricular cartilage graft. The PRP group underwent the same surgical procedure plus PRP application over the anastomosis and surgical field. Two animals in the PRP group and two animals in control group died due to severe respiratory distress on postoperative days 10, 12, 15, and 18. Six rabbits (n = 3 for control group and n = 3 for PRP group) were sacrificed at 4 weeks, and six rabbits (n = 3 for control group and n = 3 for PRP group) were sacrificed at 8 weeks. Laryngotracheal regions were evaluated histopathologically.

Results: Macroscopically, the average anteroposterior and lateral diameter of the reconstructed region and the degree of lumen patency on postoperative 4th week and 8th week were not statistically different among two groups. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of any of the microscopic findings when the analysis was made separately. However, analysis of the total number of rabbits has shown that new cartilage formation and angiogenesis were more pronounced in PRP group than control group.

Conclusions: Application of PRP contributed to better healing in airway surgery by promoting a release of growth factors that stimulate new cartilage formation and angiogenesis.