TAPP surgery with mesh fixation and peritoneal closure using n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (LiquiBand®FIX8TM)—initial experience

N-Butyl-2-Cyanoacrylate Adhesive Versus Absorbable Tacks in Laparoscopic Groin Hernia Repair: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial

Objective

We aimed to determine whether n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NB2C) adhesive is a safe and effective mechanism for nonpenetrating mesh and peritoneal fixation during laparoscopic groin hernia repair.

Background

Chronic pain after laparoscopic groin hernia repair has been associated with penetrating fixation, but there had been no US Food and Drug Administration-approved devices for nonpenetrating fixation in this context.

Methods

Patients undergoing laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAP) or totally extraperitoneal (TEP) groin hernia repair with mesh at 1 of 5 academic medical centers were randomized to mesh (TAP/TEP) and peritoneal (TAP) fixation with NB2C adhesive or absorbable tacks. The primary outcome was improvement in pain (visual analog scale [VAS]) at 6 months. The noninferiority margin was 0.9 (α = 0.025; β = 80%). Recurrence, successful use of the device, quality of life, and rates of adverse events (AEs) were secondary outcomes.

Results

From 2019 to 2021, 284 patients were randomized to either NB2C adhesive or absorbable tacks (n = 142/142). Patient and hernia characteristics were comparable, and 65% were repaired using a TAP approach. The difference in VAS improvement at 6 months with NB2C adhesive was not inferior to absorbable tacks in intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses, respectively (0.25 [95% CI, -0.33 to 0.82]; P = 0.013; 0.22 [95% CI, -0.36 to 0.80], noninferiority P = 0.011). There were no differences in secondary outcomes including recurrence, successful use of each device to fixate the mesh and peritoneum, quality of life, and additional VAS pain scores. Rates of adverse and serious AEs were also comparable.

Conclusions

NB2C adhesive is safe and effective for mesh fixation and peritoneal closure during laparoscopic groin hernia repair.

Effects of cyanoacrylate on leakage pressures of cooled canine cadaveric jejunal enterotomies

OBJECTIVE

To compare the intraluminal initial and maximal pressures of enterotomies closed using three different techniques (single-layer appositional continuous closure; closure with cyanoacrylate; a single-layer appositional closure augmented with cyanoacrylate) in a cooled canine cadaveric jejunal model and to report the initial leak location in all samples.

STUDY DESIGN

Experimental, ex-vivo study.

SAMPLE POPULATION

Grossly normal chilled small intestine segments from three canine cadavers.

METHODS

A total of 45 chilled jejunal segments (n = 15 segments/group) were assigned to a handsewn group (HSE), a cyanoacrylate only group (CE) and a handsewn and cyanoacrylate group (HS + CE). A 2 cm antimesenteric enterotomy was performed and closure with one of the above techniques. Initial leakage pressures (ILP), maximal intraluminal pressures (MIP) and initial leakage location were recorded by a single observer.

RESULTS

Handsewn enterotomies leaked at higher ILP when augmented with cyanoacrylate (83.3 ± 4.6 mmHg, p < .001) compared to both the HSE group (43.8 ± 5.3 mmHg) and the CE group (18.6 ± 3.5 mmHg). Those sealed with cyanoacrylate only leaked at a lower MIP compared with the other groups (p < .001). Maximal intraluminal pressures did not differ between handsewn enterotomies, whether augmented or not (p = .19).

CONCLUSION

Reinforcement of a sutured enterotomy closure with cyanoacrylate was easy to perform and resulted in significantly increased initial leak pressures in cadaveric jejunum.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The increased leakage pressures achieved by reinforcing enterotomies with cyanoacrylate could consequently reduce the incidence of postoperative intestinal leakage following an enterotomy and may result in reduced patient morbidity or mortality.

Laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) groin hernia repair using n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Liquiband®Fix8™) for mesh fixation and peritoneal closure: learning experience during introduction into clinical practice

Introduction

In a single centre evaluation of a novel hernia repair device, 200 consecutive patients underwent 247 laparoscopic (TAPP) groin hernia repairs (47 bilateral) using n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Liquiband®Fix8™) for mesh fixation and peritoneal closure over a 2-year period by a single experienced laparoscopic surgeon.

Patients and methods

All groin hernia patients requiring TAPP repair were included in the study: Inguinal 142, Femoral 14, Spigelian 4, and Inguinal disruption 40. A retrospective review of the data was performed. There were 161 males and 39 females, mean age 55 years (range 20–89 years). Mesh fixation was successful in all 247 TAPP repairs, and 90% of patients had a successful peritoneal closure using the device (20 patients required the use of conventional tacks to complete closure).

Follow-up

Patients were followed up with an out-patient visit at 6 weeks post-op, followed by a Patient Initiated Follow Up programme, and a final Telephone follow-up. To date all patients have completed 1 year of follow-up, and 70% of patients 2 years of follow-up (median 29 months, range 14 to 40 months).

Results

There were very few procedure-related adverse events: groin seromas 6 (2.4%), port site bleeding 2 (0.3%), port site hernia 2 (0.3%), and only 1 groin hernia recurrence (0.4%). Prospective surgeon scoring of satisfaction for mesh fixation, peritoneal closure, and device clogging was favourable and increased following the initial learning phase. Changes in the device design during the study period improved the efficacy of the device significantly.

Conclusion

This retrospective study shows that mesh fixation and peritoneal closure using the Liquiband®Fix8™ device is feasible, safe, practical, and is easy to learn.