Utility of autologous fibrin glue in the donor site of free abdominal flap for breast reconstruction: A randomized controlled study

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chiba Cancer Center Hospital, Chiba, Japan. Electronic address: tokumoto0414@yahoo.co.jp. Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Chiba University, Faculty of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.

Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS. 2021
Full text from:
Abstract
BACKGROUND Seroma formation at the donor site is a common complication of breast reconstruction using free abdominal flap. In this study, we assessed the benefits of use of autologous fibrin glue (AFG) at the donor site. METHODS This randomized controlled study compared AFG group (n = 61) with commercial fibrin glue (CFG) group (n = 79). Owing to the high volume of AFG (10 mL), AFG group received fibrin glue at both the anastomosis and the donor sites, whereas CFG group received fibrin glue only at the anastomosis site. Operative protocols and the criteria for postoperative drain removal were identical in both groups. Patient characteristics and abdominal discharge were compared between the two groups. RESULTS Since anemia was a contraindication for use of AFG, preoperative Hb in CFG group was significantly lower than that in AFG group; other factors were comparable in the two groups. The mean total abdominal drain volumes on first postoperative day (POD1) and POD2 was (AFG vs. CFG) 130.9 vs. 169.4 mL (P < 0.001) and 131.0 vs. 162.8 mL (P = 0.03), respectively. On POD3, there was no significant difference in this respect (116.2 vs. 128.4 mL, P = 0.19). The mean time for removal of all abdominal drains was significantly lower in AFG group (7.4 vs. 8.4 days; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS AFG reduced the discharge at the donor site of free abdominal flap, especially in the early postoperative period. AFG helped to reduce the abdominal drainage period.
Study details
Language : eng
Credits : Bibliographic data from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine