Robotic Slide Tracheoplasty for Pediatric Tracheal Stenosis in Three-Dimensional Printed and Pig Trachea Models

Abstract

Purpose: Pediatric long-segment tracheal stenosis often requires operative repair with a slide tracheoplasty performed through median sternotomy. We hypothesized that this operation can be performed through a transcervical approach with use of a single-port robotic system. Description: A transcervical single-port robotic slide tracheoplasty was performed in 2 models-a 3-dimensional (3D) printed pediatric tracheal stenosis model and a cadaveric pig trachea model. Evaluation: Single-port robotic slide tracheoplasty was successfully performed in both models. They were large enough that there were minimal issues with limited working space, although mediastinal structures around the trachea were not represented in the models. The advantage of the 3D printed model was the realistic anatomic tracheal stenosis; the advantage of the pig trachea model was the realistic tissue. Conclusions: Transcervical single-port robotic slide tracheoplasty was technically feasible in both our 3D printed and pig trachea models. However, given the limited working space, there are limits to the size of the patient for this technique. Further development is needed before this technique is ready for clinical use.