NORTH HAVEN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Covidien (NYSE: COV), a leading global provider of healthcare products, today announced the launch of DuraSeal™ spine sealant, the first product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for intra-operative sealing of the dural membrane during spine procedures. Nearly 1.5 million spine surgeries are performed in the U.S. every year, with an estimated 10% of these surgeries requiring dural repair and sealing. Tears in the dura - the outermost membrane covering the brain and the spinal cord - can result in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) leaks after surgery, leading to possible medical complications and extended hospital stays. One recent study found that CSF leaks after spinal surgery are estimated to cost an average of $6,479 in additional expense, mainly due to longer hospital and intensive care unit stays.¹
