PURPOSE: To determine whether the development of mid-term redissection after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection using gelatin-resorcin-formalin (GRF) glue could be prevented by applying less formalin. METHODS: Between 1995 and 1999, 59 patients underwent surgery with GRF glue to repair acute type A aortic dissection. Forty-one patients underwent surgery before October 1998, and 18 patients underwent surgery after November 1998. An excessive amount of formalin was used in the former period and less was used in the latter period. RESULTS: Follow-up computed tomography was done for 34 patients in the former period (Former group) and for 16 patients in the latter period (Latter group). This showed redissection in 19 of the 34 patients in the Former group and in 6 of the 16 patients in the Latter group. There was no significant difference in the frequency of mid-term redissection between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The development of mid-term redissection of the aortic root was not prevented by applying less formalin in the GRF glue. Thus, we conclude that the cause of redissection is not entirely the result of too much formalin.
PURPOSE: To determine whether the development of mid-term redissection after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection using gelatin-resorcin-formalin (GRF) glue could be prevented by applying less formalin. METHODS: Between 1995 and 1999, 59 patients underwent surgery with GRF glue to repair acute type A aortic dissection. Forty-one patients underwent surgery before October 1998, and 18 patients underwent surgery after November 1998. An excessive amount of formalin was used in the former period and less was used in the latter period. RESULTS: Follow-up computed tomography was done for 34 patients in the former period (Former group) and for 16 patients in the latter period (Latter group). This showed redissection in 19 of the 34 patients in the Former group and in 6 of the 16 patients in the Latter group. There was no significant difference in the frequency of mid-term redissection between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The development of mid-term redissection of the aortic root was not prevented by applying less formalin in the GRF glue. Thus, we conclude that the cause of redissection is not entirely the result of too much formalin.