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Application of cyanoacrylate adhesive (Krazy Glue) in critical cardiac injuries
1The Carolinas Heart Institute, Charlotte, NC, USA.
Background And Aims Of The Study:
Although small lacerations of the myocardium may be repaired easily using conventional methods, larger tears or ruptures, especially if they occur in infarcted myocardial tissue, may create formidable technical challenges. Described is a method for applying sutureless pericardial patches for control of hemorrhage.
Methods:
A sutureless pericardial patch was glued to the myocardium with commercially available household cyanoacrylate (Krazy Glue) in seven patients.
Results:
No patient in this series developed any evidence of mediastinal infection as a result of this technique. Six patients were discharged home without any long-term sequelae noted. One patient developed reinfarction and died of arrhythmia two weeks following surgery. Autopsy revealed that the laceration had healed and that the patch was closely adherent. Bacteriology studies revealed that different brands of cyanoacrylate are not only bacterium-free but also exhibit a bactericidal effect.
Conclusions:
Sutureless pericardial patches fastened to the myocardium with cyanoacrylate glue to control hemorrhage under critical situations were easy to apply, safe and effective in this series of patients.