The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 39, 367-370, Copyright © 1985 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
The use of glycerol-preserved homologous dura mater grafts in cardiac surgery: the Southampton experience
O Osinowo, JL Monro and JK Ross
Dura mater obtained from human cadavers and preserved in glycerol was used
as patch grafts in various positions in the repair of acquired and
congenital cardiac defects in 107 patients over a four-year period. The
ages of the recipients ranged from 2 days to 75 years. The mean duration of
preservation of the dura mater before use was 25.2 +/- 8.1 weeks. The dural
grafts were used as an aortic root gusset in 38 patients (35.5%) undergoing
aortic valve replacement, for enlargement of the pulmonary artery or right
ventricular outflow tract or both in 38 patients (35.5%), and for repair of
coarctation of the aorta in 10 patients (9.4%). The grafts also were used
for closure of atrial septal defects, for a variety of other congenital
cardiac anomalies, and for replacement of segments of the aorta (2
patients). There were no complications attributable to the use of dura
mater. Dura mater preserved in glycerol would seem to be a suitable
material for repair of various cardiac defects because of its strength, low
antigenicity, athrombogenicity, ease of handling, availability in large
sizes, and rapid bonding to host tissue. However, long-term follow-up is
important to assess the lasting properties of dura mater.
