OVINE PERICARDIUM - A NEW MATERIAL FOR DURAPLASTY

The authors report on their 2 1/2-year clinical experience using a dur al substitute, ovine pericardium, stabilized with 0.3% glutaraldehyde, flat freeze-dried, and sterilized with gamma-irradiation. Packaging o f the ovine pericardium in double-plastic transparent bags allows simp le storage in operating rooms and the opportunity for the surgeon to c hoose an ideal graft according to its shape, size, and plasticity. The ovine pericardia were examined histologically and by transmission and scanning electron microscopy in their native, freeze-dried, and irrad iated forms. The final product is composed solely of pericardium fibro sum interwoven with artificially formed extracellular microcavities th at serve as natural pores for the ingrowth of host tissue. The surface s of the grafts appear smooth on the inner and rough on the outer side s. Sixteen grafts were examined macroscopically at autopsy and four of these were also examined histologically to illustrate their successfu l healing with no adhesion to the underlying brain. As a new dural sub stitute, ovine pericardium proved to be superior to bovine and allogen eic pericardia because of its workability, flexibility, and reduced th ickness. In a study of 120 grafts, all but one healed without complica tions.