Keypoints

• Tracheal regeneration is as unlikely as the regeneration of an external ear or nose.
• Orthotopic revascularization of the trachea is only currently possible with autotransplants.
• Orthotopic tracheal patch transplantation is possible after heterotopic revascularization.
• Immunosuppressive drugs are necessary for tracheal allograft revascularization.
• Chondrocytes are immunologically privileged because they are protected within a matrix.
• There are not yet any reliable reconstruction techniques for long, circumferential tracheal defects.