Experimental gluing of the bronchial stump after pneumonectomy in rats.

Objective: The objective of this experimental study was to evaluate the usefulness of gelatin-resorcinol-dialdehyde adhesive in sutureless closure of bronchial stumps.

Methods: In 40 male Wistar rats bronchial stumps after left-sided pneumonectomy were closed by gluing with gelatin-resorcinol-dialdehyde adhesive. For macroscopic and microscopic examination four animals were sacrificed on postoperative days 2, 7 and 14 each, 14 animals on postoperative days 28 and 120 each.

Results: On macroscopic examination the gelatin-resorcinol-dialdehyde adhesive proved in all cases effective in tight bronchial stump closure. The adhesive did not cause local infection or necrosis of the bronchial stump nor other intrathoracic inflammatory complications. All animals survived and made an uncomplicated postoperative recovery. Microscopic examination revealed that the gelatin-resorcinol-dialdehyde adhesive initially evoked an acute inflammatory response with polymorphonuclear neutrophils predominating. After an intermediate stage characterized by a granulomatous reaction and resorption of the adhesive by multinucleated giant cells, 120 days postoperatively the bronchial stumps at the sites of previous gluing showed a regular fibrous scar tissue without inflammatory cells.

Conclusion: The gelatin-resorcinol-dialdehyde adhesive showed effective in closing bronchial stumps after pneumonectomy in rats. The clinical extrapolation of this effect to thoracic surgical patients is uncertain at this time.