ABSTRACT
The use of surgical adhesives has gained considerable momentum over the last several decades. Biological adhesives rely upon fibrinogen and ultimately fibrin as their principle adhesive constituents. The fibrin adhesives, or ‘‘glues,’’ mimic the final common pathway of the coagulation cascade. These adhesives therefore consist of two solutions: a thrombin preparation and a fibrinogen preparation. When combined with appropriate cofactors, the mixture forms a fibrin clot which can be used to multiple advantages.
