The use of Fibrin Sealants in Reducing Drain Output in Abdominoplasty: Is it Useful?
G. Pieretti,
A. Gubitosi,
V. Mazzarella,
M. Cimmino,
G. Lanzano,
R. Grella,
G.A. Ferraro,
E. Grella
Affiliations
G. Pieretti
Plastic Surgery Unit, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgery and Dental Specialities, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Piazza Luigi Miraglia, 80138 Naples, Italy
A. Gubitosi
Plastic Surgery Unit, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgery and Dental Specialities, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Piazza Luigi Miraglia, 80138 Naples, Italy
V. Mazzarella
Corresponding author: Vincenzo Mazzarella, Plastic Surgery Unit, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialities, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Piazza Luigi Miraglia, 80138 Naples, Italy. +393356968593.; Plastic Surgery Unit, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgery and Dental Specialities, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Piazza Luigi Miraglia, 80138 Naples, Italy
M. Cimmino
Plastic Surgery Unit, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgery and Dental Specialities, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Piazza Luigi Miraglia, 80138 Naples, Italy
G. Lanzano
Plastic Surgery Unit, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgery and Dental Specialities, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Piazza Luigi Miraglia, 80138 Naples, Italy
R. Grella
Plastic Surgery Unit, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgery and Dental Specialities, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Piazza Luigi Miraglia, 80138 Naples, Italy
G.A. Ferraro
Plastic Surgery Unit, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgery and Dental Specialities, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Piazza Luigi Miraglia, 80138 Naples, Italy
E. Grella
Plastic Surgery Unit, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgery and Dental Specialities, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Piazza Luigi Miraglia, 80138 Naples, Italy
Background: Abdominoplasty is a common surgical procedure in which excess abdominal skin and fat are reduced to improve body contouring. Fibrin sealant has been proposed to reduce postsurgical bleeding and exudation. In this study, we evaluated whether there was a significant statistical difference in surgical output between the use of fibrin glue and its nonuse in abdominoplasty surgery, specifically in reducing bleeding and exudation. Material and methods: A retrospective chart review of 68 postbariatric abdominoplasty patients (58 females, 10 males) was performed. We divided the patients into Group A (30 cases, 44%), in which we used fibrin sealant, and Group B (38 cases, 56%), in which we did not use fibrin glue. We calculated the total amount of liquid in suction drainages until the day of their removal. Statistical analysis included the independent t-test with a significance level of 0.05. Results: The average drainage output in Group A was 620.0 ± 375.0 mL, whereas in Group B, it was 500.0 ± 290.0 mL. Results indicate an insignificant correlation between the use of fibrin glue and the amount of liquid in the surgical drains (t = 1.52, p = 0.13). The result is not significant at p <.05 according to the independent t-test. Conclusion: The use of fibrin sealant surely has a high value in all surgical branches to reduce postoperative complications, but in our study, we did not find any advantages in its use for reducing surgical drain output in abdominoplasty patients.