Use of biological glue in acute aortic dissection. Preliminary clinical results with a new surgical technique.

Use of a biological glue (GRF) is common in certain fields such as hepatic or renal surgery, but its use in vascular surgery, especially in acute aortic dissection, has not yet been reported. Our experience has demonstrated many advantages: The glue is very simple and safe to use. The aortic tissues are firmly reinforced and the sutures tighten immediately. The proximal aortic stump is anatomically reconstructed, and generally the aortic valve can be preserved and coronary reimplantation avoided. The preoperative and postoperative bleeding rates are low and the postoperative course generally is simple. The risk of maintenance or recurrence of the dissection process is reduced. Consequently, the hospital mortality rate can be reduced to about 10 percent and the long-term survival rate greatly improved.