The use of cyanoacrylate in surgical anastomosis: An alternative to microsurgery

Abstract

To present anastomosis with cyanoacrylate as a cheap, simple, fast, and available technique for anastomosis in urological, vascular, gynecological, and general surgical procedures. This method may in the future be a good alternative to microsurgery, particularly in centers where facilities are unavailable and the financial implication is unbearable for the patient. Cyanoacrylate is an adhesive or glue that is available in different chemical forms ranging from ethylcyanoacrylate (superglue) to Isobutylcyanoacrylate and octylcyanoacrylate (dermerbond), which is in clinical use. Anastomosis with cyanoacrylate requires the application of stay sutures, a luminal stent and the subsequent application of the adhesive. The adhesives with lower molecular weights produce a rigid and patent region of anastomosis, while the higher molecular compounds produce a consistency close to the normal tissue. This technique presents a surgical method that is socially, culturally, and ethically acceptable, which is affordable to a larger majority of patients in our subregion. Cyanoacrylate anastomosis may in the future present a fast, convenient, simple, and affordable option in the treatment of patients requiring anastomosis. In our subregion where the socio-cultural, psychological, and economic burden of failed anastomosis is high, associated with the low per capital income, this may be a novel option for the management of urogynecological, vascular, neurosurgical, and general surgical procedures requiring either microscopic or macroscopic anastomosis.