Surgical glues, also known as surgical sealants or tissue adhesives, are fast-setting adhesive products that are used in surgery instead of traditional sutures or staples to hold tissues together after an incision or trauma. There are several different types of surgical glues available, but they all work in a similar fashion by rapidly bonding to tissues upon contact to form a strong seal. Some of the main advantages of surgical glues over sutures include faster procedure times, reduced pain and scarring for patients, and usefulness in sealing areas that are difficult to suture.
Types of Surgical Glues
Fibrin Sealants
One of the most common types of Surgical Glues is a fibrin sealant, which mimics the body's natural clotting process. Fibrin sealants are produced from purified human or bovine blood proteins and form a stable clot upon application that is eventually reabsorbed by the body. They form an excellent seal and bonding to tissues and are often used to control bleeding during surgery. Some examples of fibrin sealants include Evicel and Tisseel.
Collagen-Based Glues
Collagen is a structural protein in the body that provides strength and healing. Collagen-based surgical glues, such as CoSeal and DuraSeal, form flexible and durable bonds when applied. They swell upon contact with tissues to form a protective scaffold that promotes natural healing. Collagen glues are strong but become gradually absorbed by the body over time as healing occurs.
Cyanoacrylate Glues
Cyanoacrylate glues, commonly known as superglues, form very strong but rigid bonds instantly upon contact with water or moisture on tissue surfaces. Examples include Dermabond and Indermil. They are often used to quickly seal skin incisions or actively bleeding wounds during surgery. However, cyanoacrylate glues form permanent bonds that are not reabsorbed, so they are typically only used externally on skin or superficial tissues.
Growth Factor-Enhanced Glues
Some newer surgical glue formulations incorporate growth factors into their composition to further promote natural tissue repair and healing after surgery. For example, DuraSeal Anterior includes growth factors that stimulate natural tissue responses to form strong, organized scar tissue around dural repairs in brain surgery. The added growth factors help reduce recurrence rates for dural leaks.
Applications of Surgical Glues
Hemostasis
One of the most common applications of surgical glues is to control bleeding, or hemostasis, during surgery. Glues like fibrin sealants are excellent for sealing small blood vessel wounds and actively bleeding surfaces. They provide a protective layer over wound sites that replicates the body's natural clotting cascade. This allows surgeons to achieve hemostasis quickly in critical or hard to suture areas without clamps or added pressure.
Tissue Apposition
Surgical glues are often used instead of sutures for closing surgical incisions and holding tissues together post-operatively. Their rapid bonding abilities let surgeons easily glue tissue edges into close apposition for healing. Particularly in cosmetic procedures like dermal filler injections, glue provides a seamless closure without visible suture marks. Glues also eliminate the tension on tissues caused by tied sutures or staples that can lead to increased scarring.
Anastomosis
In vascular, gastrointestinal and other reconstructive surgeries that require reconnecting tubular structures, glues offer a simplified alternative to suturing for anastomoses. They form strong yet flexible seals between graft vessels, intestines and other tubular organs. Glues eliminate the risk of leakage that can occur if sutures or staples cut through or create points of high pressure.
Dural Repair
In neurosurgery procedures requiring dural repair after cranial or spinal access, glues provide a durable yet flexible seal over dural defects that reduces recurrence rates of cerebrospinal fluid leaks compared to sutures alone. Growth factor-enhanced glues like DuraSeal Anterior aid in forming organized scar tissue to further reinforce dural repairs.
Advantages Over Traditional Sutures
There are several advantages of using surgical glues instead of traditional sutures:
- Faster procedure time - Glues bond tissues instantly versus time to suture layer by layer. This shortens surgery and recovery times.
- Less invasive - Glues eliminate need for needle insertion and knots, reducing trauma to tissues. This lessens post-operative pain.
- No tension on tissues - Glued closures do not cause tension across incision or suture sites that can lead to increased scarring.
- Useful in minimally invasive procedures - Glues can be applied through small instrument ports or incisions where suturing is not possible.
- Seals bleeding rapidly - Glues form an immediate protective layer versus waiting for clots to form with sutures.
- durable repairs - Properly applied glues create strong, flexible bonds comparable to suturing for wound or anastomosis closures.
- No foreign body reaction - Glues are reabsorbed over time versus permanent suture materials. This reduces effects of foreign body responses.
As surgical glues continue developing, they offer clear benefits as an alternative or adjunct to traditional wound closure methods. Their rapid bonding abilities, issues reduced scarring, and effectiveness in minimally invasive procedures increase their usefulness across many surgical specialties. Glues have truly revolutionized how surgeons close both external and internal tissues.
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Ravina Pandya, Content Writer, has a strong foothold in the market research industry. She specializes in writing well-researched articles from different industries, including food and beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravina-pandya-1a3984191)
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