Patch Question

[Joalexa]

Daughter has Duragen patch and I was reading up on it.  It is a laid on patch which helps to explain her 90 minute surgery (with another hour for the prep).  It says this patch is totally absorbed by the body I was wondering how long that takes?  Once it is absorbed can there be a leak?  We are dealing with some fluid build up which seems to have resolved (at least from what we can see/feel).  Thanks for any info!

[Joalexa]

Thanks everyone for weighing in.  Her NS is one of the top pediatric doctors at the 2nd ranked children's hospital for neurosurgery in the country.  He does 3 of these surgeries per week and operates on fetuses in the womb with SB.  We're comfortable with his expertise.  According to the website Duragen is a collagen based matrix (cow) that is only used for dura grafting (brain) so I'm not sure about other parts of the body?  Maybe an off label use?  

[selmaS]

Thanks for that info Molly....I did not remember ur first patch being this...could be I did not know, or just do not remember....

Could it be that it was not a good choice for u bcuz u have EDS or was that for ALL chiarians?

[soccero]

my first patch was a duragen once we left my 1st surgeon and saw a chiari specialist we were told this should never have been used in the brain it is good for like hips and other things but because ur body absorbs it this causes a lot of scar tissue. im not trying to scare u just what i have been told
molly

[selmaS]

  This is the first time I am hearing of this being used on a member here...so until we hear how this goes with ur DD and  if she has ne issues, I am not aware of others ......

Not saying there r none out there, just saying I am not aware of them or ne info on how neone with one did post op or long term.