CO₂ Laser Soldering for the Reconstruction of Dural Defects in the Minipig Model.

AIM To explore the feasibility and reliability of CO₂ laser soldering on the reconstruction of dura mater in the minipig model. MATERIAL AND METHODS Ten minipigs were divided into 2 groups as Group A (n=5) and Group B (n=5). Bilateral fronto-parietal craniotomy was performed and 2 cm × 1 cm dural defect created under general anesthesia. Then, the defect was repaired with autologous temporalis fascia by CO₂ laser soldering. After pressure and watertightness testing, the minipigs of group A were sacrificed immediately. Minipigs in Group B were followed for 4 weeks, with daily monitoring of behavior, food intake, skin incision and neurological condition. Animals of Group B were also subjected to the same tests as group A. Then, they were also sacrificed. The reconstructed area and underlying brain tissue were fixed in paraformaldehyde and submitted for histological analysis. RESULTS No neural impairment, hydrops or empyema, and no cerebrospinal fluid leak in the dura-fascia interface were observed in Group B. The mean burst pressures were higher than the mean intracranial crest pressure in groups A and B. This difference was significant (P=0.010, P=0.000, respectively). The physiological intracranial pressure of ten minipigs ranged between 4.53 and 6.47 mmHg. No thermal injury was observed in either group. CONCLUSION CO₂ laser soldering for dural defect reconstruction was feasible and reliable.