Month: April 2025

Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2025 Feb 28. doi: 10.1007/s00266-025-04770-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this in vivo study is to compare cartilage viability within diced cartilage grafts from the perspective of three wrapping biomaterials Group A acellular dermal matrix (FlexHD®), Group T bovine pericardium (Tutopatch®), and Group F allogeneic human fascia for a possible implementation in the clinical use.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This in vivo study was conducted on 5 SCID (Severe Combined Immunodeficiency)/Gamma Mice with a duration of eight weeks. The cartilage within composite grafts were obtained from the remaining cartilage following secondary rhinoplasty performed on a single donor. Diced cartilage grafts were wrapped separately with acellular dermal matrix (ADM), bovine pericardium, and fascia to form three groups. A total of five mice were utilized in all three experimental groups, with a total of 15 experimental materials being examined. One composite graft from each group was implanted into the backs of the mice. The effects of the biomaterials on the viability and stability of the composite grafts were evaluated. Viability was evaluated through LIVE/DEAD cell analysis and histopathological examinations. Stability was assessed by comparing weight and volume changes of the grafts, measured using a precision balance and computed tomography, respectively.

RESULTS: A significant increase in weight was found in the fascia group after implantation (p < 0.05). In the ADM (Group A) and bovine pericardium (Group T), no statistically significant weight change was observed (p > 0.05). A significant increase in volume was found in the ADM (Group A) group after implantation (p < 0.05). Flow cytometry showed the highest cartilage viability percentage in the fascia (Group F) and the lowest in the ADM (Group A). No significant difference was found in viability percentages between the groups. Histopathological examinations supported the flow cytometry findings.

CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that cartilage grafts wrapped in allogenic fascia (Group F) showed better viability and stability compared with ADM (Group A) and bovine pericardium (Group T). This suggests that while fascia may remain the gold standard, alternative biomaterials also hold potential. Further experimental and clinical studies with larger sample sizes are needed to support these findings.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE I: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

PMID:40021504 | DOI:10.1007/s00266-025-04770-7

Interdiscip Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2025 Feb 5;40(2):ivaf016. doi: 10.1093/icvts/ivaf016.

ABSTRACT

Loeys-Dietz syndrome involves vascular abnormalities and aortic root aneurysms. This study described a 10-year-old boy who presented with progressively enlarging ascending aortic aneurysm and mild aortic valve regurgitation. He was diagnosed with Loeys-Dietz syndrome and underwent aortic valve-sparing repair. However, 6 months after the surgery, aortic root pseudoaneurysms were detected. Thus, aortic root repair was performed by transseptal approach. The orifices of pseudoaneurysms were closed with double-layer patches composed of autologous and bovine pericardial patches. Based on the findings of this study, we conclude that the transseptal approach is useful for closing aneurysms at the aortic root.

PMID:39918975 | PMC:PMC11997791 | DOI:10.1093/icvts/ivaf016

Neurosurg Focus. 2025 Feb 1;58(2):E13. doi: 10.3171/2024.11.FOCUS24710.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether the selection of different dural substitutes and distinct dural repair techniques correlates with the incidence rate of postoperative CSF leak in a mixed population of adults and children with Chiari type I malformation (CM-I) who underwent posterior fossa decompression with enlargement duraplasty (PFDD) as the first surgical approach.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on all patients admitted to the authors’ institution between 2006 and 2023 for PFDD to treat syringomyelia and/or symptoms due to CM-I. Clinical, radiological, and surgical data were extracted from a prospectively maintained database. Demographic information was collected from medical records. Surgical procedures were also scrutinized, specifically focusing on the type of dural graft used for duraplasty, alongside perioperative complications and the necessity for subsequent surgeries. Lastly, during follow-up, the occurrence of a CSF leak was assessed and analyzed in relation to the type of dural graft used during surgery. The type of dural substitute chosen changed over the years to reduce CSF fistulas, while the technique of PFDD remained the same. Consequently, large sequential homogeneous groups differing only by dural substitutes were available for comparison.

RESULTS: The data from 409 patients with CM-I undergoing PFDD were analyzed. A total of 368 cases had complete surgical data and were included. Thirty patients received autologous duraplasty. The remaining 338 cases with heterologous duraplasty from equine and bovine pericardium were considered for the comparative statistical analysis. The mean follow-up duration ranged from 39 months in adults to 45 months in children. The CSF complication rate requiring revision was 6.5% in the total cohort, with a higher incidence in children (10.5%) compared with adults (3.9%). There was no significant difference in adverse events (CSF leak, revision surgery, or ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement) between the different dural patches by univariate analysis if applied to the total cohort, although the trend neared significance (p = 0.06). In pediatric cases, this value was significant (p = 0.01) in favor of equine pericardium, particularly when combined with a collagen matrix inlay graft.

CONCLUSIONS: This study on a large and homogeneous series of patients with CM-I undergoing PFDD with heterologous duraplasty demonstrated that CSF complications may be kept low. The dural substitutes derived from equine pericardium, particularly when combined with a collagen matrix inlay graft, exhibited a reduced rate of CSF leaks compared with substitutes derived from bovine pericardium.

PMID:39891931 | DOI:10.3171/2024.11.FOCUS24710