FORMALDEHYDE-FREE COLLAGEN GLUE IN EXPERIMENTAL LUNG GLUING

Because of the well-known limitations of the adhesive strength of fibr in glue, it is imperative to develop a stronger glue with acceptable b iocompatibility. This was accomplished by removing the formaldehyde co mponent from gelatin-resorcinol-formaldehyde glue and replacing it by two less toxic aldehydes-pentanedial and ethanedial. To evaluate the a dhesive strength of this new glue, GR-DIAL, lung incisions in rabbit h ybrids were glued together. Each group (n = 5) was examined histologic ally after 2 days and 1, 2, and 4 weeks. The glue disintegrated gradua lly with good bioresorption when the incision was closed with a thin l ayer of glue. The healing process was favorable, indicating good bioco mpatibility. Therefore, GR-DIAL glue is capable of enhancing the use o f surgical glues in the field of thoracic surgery by enabling surgeons to close larger parenchymal lesions than with fibrin glue.