Preliminary results with the use of an albumin-glutaraldehyde tissue adhesive in lung surgery

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to test the performance of an albumin-glutaraldehyde tissue adhesive, BioGlue(r) Surgical Adhesive (BioGlue) in the sealing of air leaks from pulmonary parenchyma and bronchopleural fistulas.

Material/methods: Between March 2000 and November 2001 BioGlue was applied in 38 randomly selected patients, who underwent 39 operations. The mean age was 51.4 years (range 19 to 75 years). A median of 5 cc of BioGlue was used per patient (range 5 to 20 cc). The operations included 36 thoracotomies, 2 video-assisted thoracoscopies and one rigid bronchoscopy.

Results: The duration of air leak ranged from 0 to 2 days with a median of 1 day. The duration of total (air and fluid) chest tube drainage ranged from 1 to 12 days with a median of 3 days. Complications were observed in 3 patients (8%) and included atelectasis in one and residual space in 2. Three patients died because of preexisting respiratory failure unrelated to BioGlue application. Hospitalization ranged from 4 to 16 days with a median of 6 days and was prolonged in some patients because of their primary disease (empyema, bronchopleural fistula, etc.).

Conclusions: The use of BioGlue proved to be safe and effective in the sealing of lung lacerations and in preventing air leakage from suture or staple lines in emphysematous lungs. It was also successful in sealing bronchopleural fistulas when applied either intra-bronchially through the rigid bronchoscope or during thoracotomy.