Glutaraldehyde-preserved bovine pericardium for the repair of diaphragmatic defects due to extensive metastatic liver resection.

Closure of diaphragmatic defects, regardless of their cause, can often be achieved by direct suture. However, when a large defect secondary to tissue destruction has been observed, direct closure is likely to be difficult. The glutaraldehyde-preserved bovine pericardium is a biological material with high resistance and allows for easy surgical manipulation. This case report shows the use of these prostheses applied in a patient after massive diaphragm resection due to hepatectomy by colon metastasis invasion in the diaphragm muscle. To replace diaphragm muscle, the glutaraldehyde-preserved bovine pericardium prostheses showed a good result even after four laparotomies.