Dural closures need to be tight to prevent cerebrospinal fluid leaks. Traditional wound closure techniques involve sutures and DuraSeal which is the only FDA approved polyglycol hydrogel sealant with proven safety and efficacy profile. This article describes a new sealant, the MeTro (Methacryloyl substituted tropoelastin), which is an elastic hydrogel-based sealant made from a modified recombinant protein. It rapidly polymerises under ultra-violet light and adheres tightly to soft tissues. In pulmonary and cardiovascular systems which have a high pressure and are much more dynamic, the sealant during in vitro testing has demonstrated greater tensile strength than the currently available sealant. For trans-nasal, spinal and posterior fossa, neurosurgical procedures, bio-glues such as this one will be a boon to reduce the incidence of cerebrospinal fluid leaks and complications.
A new bio-glue for neurosurgical wound closures
Reviewed by Gauri Mankekar
MeTro: a new surgical sealant.
CONTRIBUTOR
Gauri Mankekar
Department of Otolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery, Louisiana State University Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.
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