Sealing of the hepatic resection area using fibrin glue reduces significant amount of postoperative drain fluid.

Aim: To investigate whether the routine use of fibrin glue applied onto the hepatic resection area can diminish postoperative volume of bloody or biliary fluids drained via intraoperatively placed perihepatic tubes and can thus lower the complication rate.

Methods: Two groups of consecutive patients with a comparable spectrum of recent hepatic resections were compared: (1) 13 patients who underwent application of fibrin glue immediately after resection of liver parenchyma; (2) 12 patients who did not. Volumes of postoperative drainage fluid were determined in 4-h intervals through 24 h indicating the intervention caused bloody and biliary segregation.

Results: Through the first 8 h postoperatively, there was a tendency of higher amounts of fluids in patients with no additional application of fibrin glue while through the following intervals, a significant increase of drainage volumes was documented in comparison with the first two 4-h intervals, e.g., after 12 h, 149.6 mL +/-110 mL vs 63.2 mL +/-78 mL. Using fibrin glue, postoperative fluid amounts were significantly lower through the postoperative observation period of 24 h (851 mL +/-715 mL vs 315 mL +/-305 mL).

Conclusion: For hepatic resections, the use of fibrin glue appears to be advantageous in terms of a significant decrease of surgically associated segregation of blood or bile out of the resection area. This might result in a better outcome.