New Bioabsorbable Pledgets and Non-woven Fabrics Made from Polyglycolide (PGA) for Pulmonary Surgery: Clinical Experience

Abstract

A new type of bioabsorbable pledget made from non-woven fabric of polyglycolide (PGA) fibers has been developed. After the in vivo implantation test using dogs, samples were subject to clinical evaluations in pulmonary operations in four hospitals. The total number of trial cases was 50; in 11 cases pledgets were used for repair of the bronchus and in 39 cases for lung fistulas or defects of the pleurae. Compared with the conventional nonabsorbable pledgets, these PGA pledgets showed satisfactory results. In particular, for cases of emphysematous pulmonary diseases the application of the PGA pledgets and non-woven fabrics made the post-operative air-leakage duration short. In all these 50 cases neither side effect nor complication was observed. This evaluation suggests that PGA pledgets and non-woven fabric are an acceptable and even better alternative to conventional nonabsorbable pledgets for the pulmonary surgery.

Application of Polyethylene Glycolic Acid Felt with Fibrin Sealant to Prevent Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula in Pancreatic Surgery

“…The PGA felt can be easily hydrolyzed in wet conditions by fibrin glue, and the PGA felt is absorbed within 3 months. 22 In addition, because the rate of water absorption is high in the PGA felt, the fibrin glue is thought to attach firmly to the cut surface of the pancreas compared with the application of the fibrin sealant or PGA felt only. The PGA felt may focus the fibrin sealant to the cut surface of the pancreas to prevent early detachment of the fibrin sealant from the pancreas, enhancing the effects of the fibrin sealant.…”

Clinical application of soft polyglycolic acid felt for hemostasis and repair of a lacerated liver: Report of two cases

“…13 In most cases, its application was combined with fi brin glue 14 generally with satisfactory results. The use of felt in abdominal surgery has occasionally been reported in experimental 15,16 and clinical settings.…”

Intractable esophago-mediastinal fistula as a rare complication following thoracoabdominal aortic replacement

“…To avoid these complications associated with surgical pledgets, Nakamura et al [8] recommended use of absorbable pledgets. This type might be especially effective in preventing complications occurring a few years later as have been reported by some authors [3][4][5]7].…”