Effectiveness of cyanoacrylate adhesive in rabbit aortorrhaphy

BACKGROUND: Even when properly performed, arterial sutures are not always absolutely hemostatic. Tissue sealants and adhesives have become available that can be used to complete sutures, preventing hemorrhage problems.OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of cyanoacrylate adhesive for sealing aortotomies in rabbits in a coagulopathic state, by analyzing survival of the animals and the time taken to achieve hemostasis.METHODS: Ten-mm long aortotomies were performed on the infrarenal aortas of 12 animals. In four animals, aortorrhaphy was conducted using four interrupted polypropylene sutures and in the remaining animals aortorrhaphy was performed using four or fewer polypropylene stitches, followed by application of a cyanoacrylate adhesive.RESULTS: The four animals sutured without adhesive died within the postoperative period due to severe hemorrhage (3 animals) or intestinal ischemia. The eight animals to which the adhesive was applied exhibited no transoperative bleeding, but one animal died during the postoperative period. Using cyanoacrylate permitted more rapid procedures (p