Mucociliary clearance of stented laryngotracheal tract in guinea pigs in vivo.

The purpose of this study was to investigate laryngotracheal mucociliary transport by means of an in vivo guinea pig model with and without a stent. The experimental design involved marking with deep-colored resin powder and utilizing the serial photograph-analyzing method via endoscopic laryngeal videography. Fifteen animals were grouped into two airway conditions: 5 with laryngotracheal stent insertion and 10 without. The mucociliary transit time and mucociliary transport rate were measured in both groups. Significant differences between the two groups were found. In conclusion, stenting preserved and increased the clearance function of the laryngotracheal mucosa in the acute phase.