Dural defect repair with fascia by a CO2 laser system in a porcine model.
OBJECTIVE
We tested the effectiveness of a temperature-controlled CO2 laser soldering system on a porcine model for dural defect reconstruction using a fascial patch.


METHODS
A dural patch was excised and then reconstructed with fascia by a CO2 laser system in vitro in 27 animals and in vivo in five animals.


RESULTS
After dural reconstruction, the average burst pressure of the soldered patch in vitro, as measured by a custom-made pressure detector, was 258.5 cm H2O. All five pigs in the in vivo group showed no neurological complications or cerebrospinal fluid leak, and the underlying brain tissue showed no thermal injury.


CONCLUSIONS
The CO2 laser system created a watertight bond and did not cause thermal injury to the brain. The procedure is potentially faster than conventional repair, and wound healing may also be more rapid.
Forer
Boaz
B
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. forerbr@netvision.net.il
Vasilyev
Tamar
T
Brosh
Tamar
T
Kariv
Naam
N
Trejo
Leonor Leider
LL
Gil
Ziv
Z
Katzir
Abraham
A
Fliss
Dan M
DM
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000601:surgery*; D000071938:Fasciotomy; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation; D013552:Swine