Hemostatic effect of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (histoacryl) glue in warfarin-treated patients undergoing oral surgery

Purpose: Our goal was to evaluate the local hemostatic effect of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Histoacryl; B. Braun, Melsungen, Germany) glue in warfarin-treated patients who undergo outpatient oral surgery without a change in their level of anticoagulation. Materials and Methods: Thirty consecutive warfarin-treated patients randomly assigned to study and control groups and 10 patients who had never been on anticoagulant therapy serving as the negative control group were included in this trial. Before multiple teeth extractions, all patients had a prothrombin time and the international normalized ratio (INR) determined. To gain hemostasis and primary closure, gelatin sponge and multiple interrupted resorbable sutures were used in the control and negative control groups, and Histoacryl glue and the minimal number of interrupted resorbable sutures were used in the study group. Postoperatively, patients were to contact the oral surgeon if abnormal bleeding occurred. Patients who did not have postoperative bleeding were seen on the 10th postoperative day. Data were collected, and statistical differences in age and gender distributions, number of teeth extracted, INR levels, and bleeding that required treatment were analyzed with the Mantel-Haenzel test. Statistical significance was defined as a value of P < .05. Results: Local hemostasis was obtained immediately in study patients and only after 10 to 20 minutes in the control and negative control patients. In relation to bleeding complications, there were no cases of postoperative bleeding requiring treatment in both the negative control patients and study patients. In the control patients, 5 cases had postoperative spontaneous bleeding that required treatment. This difference was statistically significant. No patient had wound infection and the healing process appeared to be normal. Conclusion: Multiple extractions can be performed in patients taking oral anticoagulant therapy without a change in their level of anticoagulation provided an efficient local hemostatic measure is instituted. And, in this regard, Histoacryl glue, used as a topical adhesive over approximated wound edges, is an effective and easily applicable local hemostatic for oral surgery in such patients. (C) 2003 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.