CLOTTING deficiencies related to massive bleeding and transfusion, although not common, are important from the standpoint of military surgery. In situations in which clotting deficiencies cannot be corrected promptly, surgery may compound the problem and even result in death from hemorrhage. Vascular anastomoses are a particularly potential source of difficulty in these situations.
N-alkyl-alpha-cyanoacrylate monomers have been used since 1960 by many investigators as a tissue adhesive for nonsuture anastomosis of blood vessels.1-8 Previous papers from this institute9,10 presented early results and apparent success 14 weeks after the divided femoral arteries of dogs were repaired with N-alkyl-alpha-cyanoacrylate monomer adhesives.
This report describes a 14-month followup of these dogs and the use of aerosol tissue adhesive spray (normal or isobutyl cyanoacrylate with Freons as a propellant) in the suture line reinforcement of arterial anastomosis.
Materials and Methods
Femoral arteries (2.5 to 6 mm in outside diameter) in 45 mongrel