Ovine pericardium: a new material for duraplasty

The authors report on their 2 1/2-year clinical experience using a dural substitute, ovine pericardium, stabilized with 0.3% glutaraldehyde, flat freeze-dried, and sterilized with gamma-irradiation. Packaging of the ovine pericardium in double-plastic transparent bags allows simple storage in operating rooms and the opportunity for the surgeon to choose 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 irradiated forms. The final product is composed solely of pericardium fibrosum interwoven with artificially formed extracellular microcavities that serve as natural pores for the ingrowth of host tissue. The surfaces of the grafts appear smooth on the inner and rough on the outer sides. Sixteen grafts were examined macroscopically at autopsy and four of these were also examined histologically to illustrate their successful healing with no adhesion to the underlying brain. As a new dural substitute, ovine pericardium proved to be superior to bovine and allogeneic pericardia because of its workability, flexibility, and reduced thickness. In a study of 120 grafts, all but one healed without complications.