ABSTRACT
The ideal tissue adhesive would have at a minimum the following capabilities. The modem tissue adhesives to be considered in this limited review include cyanoacrylate, fibrin sealants, gelatin-resorcinol-formol glue, mussel adhesive protein, prolamine gel, and transforming growth factor beta. Cyanoacrylates are strong adhesives capable of instantaneous bonding and rapid hemostasis. They can be easily applied as a single component glue system stored in a tube. In addition to the risks of viral transmission, fibrin sealant without accompanying antibiotics can serve as a bacterial growth medium potentiating infection. Recent reports suggest that bovine thrombin required for use with fibrinogen to produce adhesive can induce antibodies to thrombin and Factor V creating significant clotting abnormalities. However, progress is being made in the effort to make safe and effective surgical adhesives widely and easily available at reasonable costs in this country.
