[4-year clinical experience with gelatin-resorcinol-formol glue in acute dissections of the ascending aorta].

The gelatine-resorcine-formol glue (GRF) was used to reinforce the tissues of 25 patients operated for acute dissection of the ascending aorta, between January 1977 and September 1980. The results were compared with those of a control group of 25 patients operated between 1970 and 1976 by "classical techniques". There were no significant differences between the two groups as regards age, anatomical and preoperative clinical states. The ascending aorta was replaced in all patients; the aortic valve was replaced three times (12 p. 100) in the GRF group and twelve times (48 p. 100) in the control group: the coronary arteries were bypassed or reimplanted in 20 p. 100 of patients in both groups. The average peroperative blood loss was 5,800 ml in the control group and 2,100 ml in the GRF group (p less than 0,01). There were four peroperative deaths (16 p. 100) in the control group and no peroperative deaths in the GRF group. Postoperative complications (renal failure, cerebral ischemia, persistent peripheral ischemia or infection) were much more common in the control group. They were responsible for eight hospital deaths in the control group and two hospital deaths in the GRF group (p less than 0,01). Therefore, global hospital mortality was reduced from 48 p. 100 (control group) to 8 p. 100 (GRF group) (p less than 0,01). Two late deaths occurred in the control group, but there were none in the GRF one, all survivors being in good clinical condition. Sixteen patients in the GRF group underwent 19 angiographic controls, 2 to 36 months after surgery. These investigations showed two moderate aortic regurgitations (8 p. 100), three persistent dissections of the descending aorta but a stable, good quality repair in the other patients. In conclusion, the use of GRF glue significantly reduced: 1) the number of aortic valve replacements, 2) per- and postoperative blood loss, 3) the incidence and severity of postoperative complications. The long-term survival rate (4 years) has improved from 40 to 91 p. 100.