Successful implantation of trachea develops from stem cells

Doctors in Europe have recently successfully performed a tracheal transplant with tissue developed from the patient's own stem cells. This may be a new treatment, creating many promises for other patients.

The results of the transplant were posted on the website of The Lancet medical journal today.

The transplant was performed for Claudia Castillo, a 30-year-old Colombian mother who lives in Barcelona. Castillo suffered from asthma for many years. Last March, after the left lung was badly damaged, Castillo had to go to the hospital regularly to clear the airway.

Images of Castillo's lungs before surgery.

At first, the doctors thought that the only solution was to remove all of her left lung. However, then Dr. Paolo Macchiarini, head of breast augmentation surgery at Hospital Clinic in Barcelona, ​​proposed a tracheal transplant.

And when the doctors had the windpipe of the donor, scientists at the University of Padua, Italy, discarded all the cells in the trachea, leaving only a connective tissue tube.

Meanwhile, doctors at Bristol University took bone marrow samples from Castillo's hips. They use stem cells in this bone marrow to create millions of tissue and cartilage cells to cover and create tracheal tubes.

Experts at the University of Milan then used a device to bring new cartilage and tissue onto the trachea. Then the new windpipe was implanted for Castillo in June.

'They have created a structure that, in terms of function and biology, cannot be denied by the patient's body,' said Dr. Allan Kirk of the American Transplant Association. 'This is an important step, although building a whole new part still has a long way to go.'

So far there is no sign that Castillo's body rejected the new organ. She will also not take any immunotherapy drugs, which can cause side effects such as high blood pressure, kidney failure or cancer.

'At first I was scared,' Castillo told the press. 'But now I'm enjoying life and I'm happy when the disease is cured.'

The doctors said Castillo was able to take care of the children, walking at a reasonable distance without difficulty breathing. Even Castillo said she recently danced all night at a club in Barcelona.

However, Dr. Eric Genden, who also performed the same transplant in 2005 at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, said that Castillo's progress still needs to be closely monitored and takes up to three years to complete. be sure whether the cartilage structure of the windpipe is solid and does not break or not.

But the success has opened hope for many people, including children with congenital airway defects, people with scars or tumors in the trachea, and those who have broken trachea.