[Fibrin glue protection of digestive anastomoses (author's transl)]

In animal experiments the additional sealing of colonic anastomoses using fibrin glue resulted in especially fast healing with formation of a delicate scar. Between April 1, 1976 and March 31, 1977, this method was used in 118 out of 355 patients undergoing extensive abdominal procedures. Suture line leakage was seven times less frequent than in the control group. This resulted in a considerable decrease of postoperative mortality.