ABSTRACT
As the ability to reconstruct parts of the body has increased, so has the potential for complications associated with the replacement devices used to do so. Some of the most significant complications associated with replacement devices, such as vascular prostheses, cardiac valves, and artificial joints, are caused by infections at the implantation site. It is well known that the presence of a foreign material impairs host defenses and that prolonged infections cannot be cured unless the foreign material is removed from the site of infection. As the trachea, larynx, and esophagus are located at sites facing the “external environment,” these prostheses are exposed to a high risk of infections and severe complications. The development of an artificial trachea, esophagus, and larynx is way behind that of artificial vascular grafts even though they are all tubular organs. In this chapter, we review conventional prostheses and their problems and limitations and discuss the current state of developments in this field.
