[Risk of transmission of hepatitis through human fibrin adhesives]

A prospective study of the incidence of post-operative hepatitis was carried out in 417 patients following open-heart surgery. During the observation period 16 (3.8%) patients contracted hepatitis (15 non-A, non-B hepatitis; 1 hepatitis B). Fibrin seal was used intraoperatively in 19 patients; post-operatively there was no evidence of hepatitis in any of these cases. Thus fibrin seal should not be grouped with "high hepatitis-risk" preparations.