A superglue can improve the quality of life in heart patients recovering from heart surgery
A super glue pioneered a year ago by Calgary researchers shows that it can improve the recovery of heart patients recovering from open-chest surgery, says Dr. Paul Fedak at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2010. The glue is being used to enhance the closure of the breastbone after the surgery and is called Kryptonite. Dr. Fedak says that "It has properties like natural bone and allows for new bone growth". Dr. Fedak, a cardiac surgeon at Foothills Hospital Medical Centre, has already trained surgeons across Canada who now routinely perform the procedure on their patients. The classic procedures were using steel wires to close the chest and these were staying in the chest for the rest of the life.
Since the most of complains among patients is sterna pain after a heart surgery, this procedure might significantly decrease the rate of post-surgery complaints as the healing occurs in hours, compared to weeks. Another problem post-operatory patients were facing were the pains in deep breathing, which now disappear when the new super glue is used (called Kryptonite). This glue also enhances the bone stability and thus, fewer complications, such as wound infections, occur.
After one year of follow-up, there were no side-effects reported or associated with this new revolutionary method. Researchers found that benefits of the Kryptonite™ adhesive include:
- Increased mechanical strength of the breastbone closure by five to 10 times that of wires alone.
- Patients showing significantly less pain, a reduced need for painkillers, and improved breathing for weeks after the surgery.
- Accelerated post-operative recovery time by weeks.
- Patients have improved physical function and an improved health-related quality of life.
The procedure has already been used on 500 patients in Canada since last year, when it was implemented. Now, it is very close to a larger trial to be started, which will involve 15 hospitals in United States and Canada. This new procedure, beside the fact that saves time and keeps away the patients from secondary complications, also "saves the system money", declares Dr. Beth Abramson, Heart Foundation spokesperson. The procedure may be very easy taught to physicians, it doesn't require special equipment and takes minutes to perform.
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