GLUING - A CHALLENGE IN SURGERY

Successful gluing in medicine depends on certain parameters which cann ot be matched by any one adhesive. For this purpose a balanced set of requirements is given after evaluation of all aspects. A special gelat in-resorcinol-dial system was formulated and tested for its usefulness . This system proved to be useful and gave good results when it was te sted by experimental in vitro gluing procedures with bones. Also splee n and lung tissue were glued and studied in detail. At the same time n ew adhesives were synthesized and studied by in vitro and in vivo expe riments. These peptoplasts, special derivatives from amino acids with suitable groups for a strong adhesion and cohesion as well, are now fu rther investigated and optimised after good results in pilot testings. Dissection of the aorta was another challenge for the new gluing syst ems. The great success testing here caused the commercial launching of the gelatin-resorcinol-dial system. The addition of an antibiotic, li ke vancomycin, extends the efficacy of the new gluing system in heart surgery. Also toxicological studies were performed and supported in th e introduction of this medical device.