Surgery of type A acute aortic dissection with gelatin-resorcin-formal (GRF) biological glue--study of six cases

GFR (Gelatin-Resorcin-Formalin) glue consists of mixture of gelatin and resorcin. The mixture is hardened by the addition of medical form-aldehyde, creating tridimensional network. From August 1991 to February 1993, six patients of type A acute aortic dissection underwent repair of false lumen with GRF glue. Including one female, the mean age was 57.3 years old ranged 51 years old to 64 years old. The entry of aortic intima were found in the ascending aorta in 4 cases, in the greater curvature of aortic arch in one case, and in the lesser curvature of aortic arch in one case. We used GRF glue for adhesion of intimal and medial wall of dissecting aneurysm in all cases. In case 1, the ascending aorta was replaced with a ringed intraluminal graft, and in case 2, the ascending aorta was replaced with a graft. In case 3 and 4, the aortic wall was closed primarily using GRF glue after patch closure of an entry. In case 5 and 6, the ascending aorta including an aortic arch was replaced with a graft. We revealed that GRF glue could harden the thin wall of aorta in the acute phase.