Biomechanical and histological evaluation of a prototype bovine pericardial patch for veterinary abdominal surgery: An approximation study

In veterinary medicine, especially within large animal medical and surgical clinics, addressing cavitary defects is a primary concern. In bovines, umbilical hernias are the most common defect, and surgical repair often necessitates the use of prosthetic materials. However, there is a high rate of recurrence with sutures or synthetic meshes, largely due to tissue contamination. The development of biological patches for such repairs is still in its early stages in veterinary medicine, with no commercially tested prototypes available in Argentina. Tissues derived from the extracellular matrix are considered for this purpose, with bovine pericardium standing out due to its architectural characteristics and mechanical properties. For an ideal membrane, the pericardium must retain its biomechanical properties while being unreactive and safe for the host. This study aimed to biomechanically and histologically characterize a bovine pericardium patch through all stages of processing. The treatment involved fixation with 0.5 % glutaraldehyde, immersion in an antibiotic/antimycotic solution, and detoxification and storage in a 98 % sterile glycerin solution, with three sodium phosphate-buffered washes between steps. Histological examinations and stress-strain tests were performed at each processing stage, using native pericardium as a control. Despite some minor modifications in the histological and mechanical properties, the final patches appear to be a viable alternative for resolving cavitary defects.