ISSN Online: 2177-1235 | ISSN Print: 1983-5175
Use of 2-octyl-cyanoacrylate in Tissue Suture: Experimental Study in Mice
Uso do 2-octil-cianoacrilato em Síntese Tecidual: Estudo Experimental em Camundongos
Articles -
Year2000 -
Volume15 -
Issue
2
Jiuseppe Benitivoglio Greco JúniorI,Vinício Moitinho do CarmoII, Antonio Luiz Lopes FilhoIII
ABSTRACT
Several researches have been aimed at the creation of a substance that allows the practical and fast suture of tissues without causing side effects. Previous works using cyanoacrylate have shown good final aesthetic results, low toxicity, easy application and successful pediatric use. The purpose of this paper is to experimentally evaluate the effectiveness of the 2-octyl-cyanoacrylate polymer in tissue closure in mice, comparing it to the conventional thread suture (separate stitch) and to study the local reactions during the initial phases of healing by means of histopathological examinations. We concluded that the tissue closure using 2-octyl-cyanoacrylate, when compared to the separate stitch suture, reduces inflammatory reactions, offers better arrangement of collagen tissue and, as a result, reduced fibrous reaction.
Keywords:
Healing; experimental; tissue suture; cyanoacrylate; inflammatory reaction
RESUMO
A criação de uma substância que possibilite a síntese de tecidos de forma prática e rápida, sem causar efeitos nocivos ao organismo, tem sido o objetivo de várias pesquisas. Trabalhos anteriores com o cianoacrilato demonstraram bom resultado estético final, baixa toxicidade, fácil aplicabilidade e uso pediátrico com sucesso. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar experimentalmente, em camundongos, a eficácia do polímero 2-octilcianoacrilato na síntese de tecidos, comparando-o com a sutura tradicional com fio (ponto simples) e estudando as reações locais nas fases iniciais da cicatrização através de exames histopatológicos. A conclusão obtida demonstrou que a síntese tecidual com o uso do 2-octil-cianoacrilato, quando comparada com a sutura com pontos simples, ocasiona menor reação inflamatória, tecido colágeno mais bem organizado e, conseqüentemente, menor reação fibrosa.
Palavras-chave:
Cicatrização; experimental; síntese tecidual; cianoacrilato; reação inflamatória
INTRODUCTION
The loss of tissue integrity in live organisms requires the approximation of the borders of the wound in order to recover integrity, thus facilitating healing.
Suturing threads have been typically used causing tissue reactions, ranging from a granulomatous reaction of the foreign body type to a hypersensitivity response, thus changing the healing process and causing infections and suture dehiscence.
Surgical threads create a tattoo on the skin at the knot site. This tattoo may be big or small depending on the inherent local reactions of each individual and may even leave a conspicuous surgical scar.
The natural biological adhesive of superior animals is fibrin, formed from blood fibrinogen; however, the use of homologous or heterologous fibrin has disadvantages, such as the risk of diseases transmission, denaturation when in contact with antiseptics of local use such as alcohol and iodine in addition to the technical drawbacks concerning use since, once prepared, it shall be applied at the most within four hours.
Other substitutes for fibrin were then sought, including cyanoacrylates, in order to function as surgical adhesives.
Cyanoacrylate, synthesized in 1949 by Ardis(1) and described in 1959 by Coover et al. (2), has been widely studied since 1960. As time passed, changes have been made in its structure until the obtainment of 2-octylcyanoacrylate, which provides an excellent adhesive effect and low toxicity as a result of its slow degradation (1,2).
Although there are several papers in the literature showing a better final aesthetic result and cost reduction when the surgical adhesive is used compared to the thread suture, there are not enough studies comparing the tissue suture to 2-octyl-cyanoacrylate concerning reactions observed in different healing phases. This gap encouraged this work.
METHOD
Seventeen male adult mice of the CBA strain were used. The mice were subjected to inhalatory general anesthetic containing 70% ethyl ether, followed by trichotomy, asepsis and antisepsis in the ventral region.
Two parallel incisions of 2.5 cm, 1.5 cm apart from each other, were performed until the peritoneal membrane was reached, the left wound closure (A) was carried out with 2-octyl-cyanoacrylate and the right one (B) with seven separate stitches using 5-0 nylon (Figures 1 and 2). Glue was applied after the perfect averlapping of the wound borders on its surface without the penetration in the bloody area.
Fig. 1 - Closure of incision A with 2-octyl-cyanoacrylate.
Fig. 2 - Suture of incision B with single 5-0 nylon stitches.
Incisions A and B were divided into 3 regions, upper (U), medium (M) and lower (L), measuring 0.83 cm each. Biopsies were made following the same criteria of anesthesia, asepsis and antisepsis at days 1,3 and 7 after the incisions on the upper, médium and lower regions, respectively, using a number 4 punch-biopsy, always by the same surgeon.
Material was packaged separately in formaldehyde and the animals were killed after the 3rd biopsy at the seventh postoperative day.
Four mice died, 1 in the first 24 hours after the incisions, 2 after the 1st biopsy and one 24 hours after the 2nd biopsy.
Skin segments subjected to biopsy were fixed in 10% formaldehyde and then processed with imbibition and blocking in histological paraffin. 5 mm sections, obtained with a microtome and placed on slides, were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E).
RESULTS
Surgical parts were divided in groups according to the type of suture - using 2-octyl-cyanoacrylate (A) or suturing threads (B) - and biopsy period - 1 (U),3 (M) or 7 (L) days after the incisions. The histological study has shown:
Group SA (glue, 24 hours) (Figure 3)
Fig. 3 - Slide of group SA (24 hours - glue) 400x.
Most of the animais have no crust. Epithelium is almost nearly regenerated, showing small blood capillaries. On dermis, the inflammatory process is discrete, however a great mobilization of fibroblasts as well as endothelial cells is noticed. It can be already noticed that the healing lesion has a good contour and is not very thick. In two animais, small subcorneal and intradermal vesicles can be seen, even in areas beside the incision site.
Group SB (suture, 24 hours) (Figure 4)
Fig. 4 - Slide of group SB (24 hours - suture) 400x.
In this group, an often profuse crust can be always seen. The acute-type inflammatory process, with the predominance of polymorphonudear neutrophils, as well as macrophages, is continuous. Even those animals in which the borders are very dose and the regeneration process is developed, the inflammatory process and the fibrous tissue is accentuated.
Group MA (glue, 72 hours) (Figure 5)
Fig. 5 - Slide of group MA (72 hours - glue) 100x.
A well developed healing process is seen, with no inflammatory cells, with new collagenic tissue, endothelial cells and swollen fibroblasts. The general view of the healing area shows a new and clearer collagen and a thicker, keratinized, pavemental and stratified epithelium.
Group MB (suture, 72 hours) (Figure 6)
Fig. 6 - Slide of group MB (72 hours - suture) 100x.
Complete regeneration of the epithelium can be seen, however great fibroblastic activity and mononuclear-type inflammatory process are still present with macrophages and, in a smaller amount, lymphocytes.
Group IA (glue, 7 days) (Figure 7)
Fig. 7 - Slide of group IA (7 days - glue) 100x.
Healing process completed, with the epithelial and fibrous tissues being completely stabilized; it is only noticed that collagen is slighdy clearer in the healing area.
Group IB (suture, 7 days) (Figure 8)
Fig. 8 - Slide of group IB (7 days - suture) 100x.
Very visible scar, with thicker collagen; the granulomatous reaction is more deeply seen, with giant cells phagocytizing foreign body (in this case, the suturing thread).
DISCUSSION
The use of cyanoacrylate in tissues closure has already been studied in several aspects. In 1974, Welker and Neupert(5) showed its low absorption and biocompatibility. Lehman et al. (6) in 1967, Matsumoto(7) in 1967, Heiss(8)in 1970 and Williams(9) in 1976 showed that the substance was not carcinogenic. Its adhesive power was improved by changes in the chemical structure until 2-octyl-cyanoacrylate was obtained; it has long chain rings and good flexibility and strength(2).
Its aesthetic advantage related to the thread suture was demonstrated by Keng et al. (10) in 1987 and by Toriumi et al. (11) in 1998.
2-0ctyl-cyanoacrylate used in the closure of wounds seems to be easy and time-saving when compared to the thread suture.
Slides have shown reduced inflammation at the initial phase and deposition of a more organized collagen, with reduced fibrous reaction at the wounds in which glue was applied; in the case of the thread suture, we noticed increased inflammation and foreign body granuloma, including giant cells.
Such results are comparable to those obtained by Been et al.(2) in 1999, who also evaluated the use of methylacrylate with 2-octyl-cyanoacrylate and the suture with nylon threads; however a small sample with only 1 control for each healing phase was used.
Conclusions are more significant once this paper has 17 samples of each type of suture in 3 different periods.
REFERENCES
1. DeBONO R. A simple, inexpensive method for precise application of cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive. Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 1997; 100(2): 447-50.
2. MAW JL, QUINN IV, WELLS GA, DUCIC Y, ODELL PF, LAMOTHE A, BROWNRIGG PI, SUTCLIFFE T. A prospective cornparison of octylcyanoacrylate tissue adhesive and surure for the closure of head and neck incisions. J.Otolaryngol. 1997; 26(1):26-30.
3. WELKER D, NEUPERT G. Comparative biological test of polyacrylate and phosphate cement in monolayer cultures. Stomatol. DDR. 1974; 24(9):602-10.
4. LEHMAN RA, HAYES GJ. The toxiciry of alkyl 2-cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives: brain and blood vessels. Surgery. 1967; 61(6):915-22.
5. MATSUMOTO T. Carcinogenesis and cyanoacrylate adhesives. JAMA. 1967; 202(11): 1057.
6. HEISS WH. The use of synthetic polymeric materiais as suture substitutes and their place in pediatric surgery. Prog. Pediatr. Surg. 1970;1:99- 150. Review.
7. WILLIAMS DF. Biomaterials and biocompatibility.Med. Prog. Technol. 1976; 20:4(1-2):31-42.
8. KENG TM, BUCKNALL TE. A clinical trial of tissue adhesive (hystoacryl) in skin closure of groin wounds. Med. J. Malaysia. 1989; 44(2): 122-8.
9. TORIUMI DM, O'GRADY K, DESAI D, BAGAL A. Use of ocryl-2-cyanoacrylate for skin closure in facial plastic surgery. Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 1998; 102(6):2209-19.
10. BEEN RJ, PUCC FA, KAIOGLIAN DF. Estudo experimental anatomopatológico do cianoacrilato na cicatrização em ratos. PUC São Paulo, 1999.
I - Master in Surgery from UFBA. Assistant Physician at the Plascic Surgery Service of Hospital São Rafael. Specialist Member of the Brazilian Society of Plascic Surgery.
II - Postgraduacion Student in Plastic Surgery at Hospital São Rafael.
III - Head of the Plastic Surgery Service of Hospital São Rafael. Titular Member of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery. Participant Member of the Internacional Society of Aesthecic Plastic Surgery Member of the Brazilian Society of Craniofacial Surgery.
Address for correspondence:
Jiuseppe Benitivoglio Greco Jr, MD
Av. São Rafael, 2152
41256-900 - Salvador - BA Brazil
Phone: (55 71) 399-6511 - Fax:(55 71) 245-7212
e-mail: grecojr@e-net.com.br
All scientific articles published at www.rbcp.org.br are licensed under a Creative Commons license
