Background: Endotherapy of bleeding gastric varices is problematic. The aim of this descriptive study in an animal model was to compare 2-octyl-cyanoacrylate (Dermabond), a Food and Drug Administration-approved agent for superficial wound closure, to N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Histoacryl), an agent available outside of the United States for the endoscopic treatment of bleeding gastric varices.
Methods: Eight New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to either the study agent Dermabond or the control agent, Histoacryl. Both active agents were equally mixed with ethiodized poppy seed oil (Ethiodol) and injected into the auricular vein. The animals were euthanized at various time intervals after injection. A 2 cm strip of tissue on either side of the injection site along with the adjacent perivascular tissues were resected for histologic evaluation.
Results: The use of 0.5 mL of Dermabond effectively induced vascular occlusion compared with 0.2 mL of Histoacryl. The histologic changes acutely and at 1 week were similar with each mixture.
Conclusion: Dermabond may be useful in the treatment of gastric variceal bleeding, but further studies are necessary to determine dose response rates in animals and humans.