Reducing morbidity with surgical adhesives following inguinal lymph node dissections for the treatment of malignant skin tumors

Inguinal lymph node dissection (ILND) is associated with a high rate of morbidity. To evaluate the clinical benefit of surgical adhesives to reduce complications in patients undergoing ILND, we compared the use of TissuGlu(®) Surgical Adhesive and ARTISS(®) fibrin sealant with a control population. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing ILND for metastatic malignant skin tumors at one hospital, Fachklinik Hornheide (Münster, Germany), from January 2011 through September 2013, assessing 137 patients with a total of 142 procedures. Complications occurred in 22/60 procedures in the TissuGlu group (TG), in 8/17 in the ARTISS group (AG), and in 29/65 in the control group (CG). Prolonged drainage and seroma were recorded in 16 (26.7%), four (23.5%), and 26 (40%) respectively (non-significant). TG showed less extended drainage vs. CG (p=0.082). Mean daily drain volumes were significantly lower in AG vs. CG (p=0.000). With regard to wound infection, there was a 15% reduction in TG and 74% increase in AG group. Revision surgery was reduced by 36% in TG and increased by 54% in AG. Mean daily drain volumes were significantly lower in AG vs. CG (p=0.000). Mean total post-operative drain volume was lower in TG and AG vs. CG (p