A prospective randomized trial comparing 2-octyl cyanoacrylate to conventional suturing in closure of laparoscopic cholecystectomy incisions.

OBJECTIVE: To compare 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (Dermabond) with conventional suturing for closure of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) wounds in a prospective randomized controlled trial.

SUBJECTS: Twenty-five consecutive patients underwent LC at a teaching hospital in the United Kingdom. Patients were randomly allocated to have skin closed with 2-octyl cyanoacrylate or absorbable suture.

METHODS: Fifty-one wounds underwent skin closure with absorbable subcuticular suture (3/0 polydiaxanone) and 48 wounds were closed with tissue adhesive. The time to close the wounds, including the placement of dressings, was recorded. At 6 to 8 weeks, the incisions were evaluated with the Hollander wound evaluation scale (HWES). Using a visual analogue scale (VAS), the wounds were also rated by a plastic surgeon who was blinded to the method of closure.

RESULTS: The wounds were closed significantly faster in the Dermabond group (mean 165 seconds versus 356 seconds, P = 0.03). There were no differences in the percentage of wounds achieving optimal scores on the HWES (suture 64.7% versus tissue adhesive 60.4%, P = 0.42) nor on the mean VAS (suture 62 mm versus tissue adhesive 59 mm, P = 0.45).

CONCLUSION: The tissue adhesive 2-octyl cyanoacrylate is a safe and fast method for closure of LC wounds, with cosmetic results comparable to suturing.