Does perivascular fibrin glue application have a preventive effect for the endothelial damage on saphenous vein graft? An experimental model.

Background: The effect of tissue adhesives on coronary grafts in cardiac surgery is a controversial issue.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of fibrin glue (FG) applied around the saphenous vein grafts (SVG) in preventing cellular damage resulting from intraluminal pressure increase.

Methods: Twenty volunteer patients were included in this ex vivo study. The SVGs remained after coronary artery bypass grafting were connected to the arterial line of the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit. The grafts were divided into two segments and one segment received perivascular FG applied whereas the other part was used plain. SVGs were kept in circulation at 120 mmHg pressure 250 mL/min flow rate for 60 min. The tissues were sent for histopathological examination to determine the endothelial damage.

Results: Endothelial damage was more pronounced in the control group when compared with the FG group. In the FG group, no damage was seen in 13 samples and no Type 3 endothelial damage was observe whereas Type 1 injury was detected in seven specimens, Type 2 injury was observed in seven specimens, and Type 3 injury was detected in two specimens in the control group.

Conclusion: Perivascular application of FG on the SVG showed a protective effect against endothelial damage resulting from increased intraluminal pressure.