Fibrin sealant in vascular surgery: a review.

Fibrin sealant (FS) is a mixture of concentrated fibrinogen and thrombin that creates a fibrin matrix that is slowly degraded by the body's fibrinolytic system. FS is currently being used in the clinical arena for many applications. Perhaps the most relevant indication for vascular surgeons concentrates on FS's hemostatic properties. Current research in many centers is investigating FS's capability to incorporate drugs and cytokines into the fibrin matrix for slow release as a drug delivery system for future clinical use. This review will focus on three main uses of FS: as an anastomotic sealant, as an antibiotic coating, and as an agent for endothelialization of grafts.