Vesicourethral anastomosis with 2-octyl cyanoacrylate adhesive in an in vivo canine model.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate adhesive (OCA) in the formation of vesicourethral anastomoses.

Methods: Open total prostatectomy was performed on 12 mongrel hounds. Of these, 8 had a vesicourethral anastomosis formed using OCA (4 with suture support and 4 sutureless). The remaining four anastomoses were conventionally formed using eight interrupted sutures. Acute leakage was tested intraoperatively. Before killing the hounds, the anastomosis of 1 animal in each group was assessed on postoperative days 3, 5, 7, and 14 by radiography. Each anastomotic specimen was then tested for leak pressure and examined histologically.

Results: At intraoperative testing, one small leak was found in the sutureless OCA group. All other anastomoses were watertight intraoperatively. Radiographically, two leaks occurred in the OCA group with suture support, three leaks in the sutureless OCA group, and only one small localized leak in the control group. Only one of the eight anastomoses using OCA achieved a physiologic leak pressure greater than 70 mm Hg (one of these, however, could not be tested because of injury at the time the specimen was retrieved). The leak pressures of all four control-group anastomoses were 70 mm Hg or greater. Histologically, no significant differences were found in healing between the control and OCA anastomoses.

Conclusions: With or without suture support, OCA appears to be unsuitable for use in forming the large-diameter vesicourethral anastomosis required in radical prostatectomy.