In 1959, Eastman Kodak introduced Eastman 910 (methyl α-cyanoacrylate), an instant adhesive that quickly captured the attention of the medical community.
Following its initial application in arterial anastomosis by Nathan et al. in 1960-and a subsequent period in which the FDA approved isobutyl α-cyanoacrylate for medical use in 1972 before later withdrawing that approval-the field saw a major development in 2003. That year, Johnson & Johnson applied for and received approval in my country for its FDA-approved "Topical Skin Adhesive" (2-OCA, or 2-octyl cyanoacrylate); this product was subsequently introduced at Peking Union Medical College Hospital in 2004.
In 1963, Japan's Ministry of Health and Welfare approved "Aron Alpha A [Sankyo]" (ethyl/n-butyl α-cyanoacrylate) for use as both a dental and surgical adhesive. This was followed by the introduction of "Histoacryl Blau" (n-butyl α-cyanoacrylate) by the German company B. Braun; in 1994, this blue-tinted adhesive was priced at 375 RMB per 0.5 ml vial. In 2000, the German firm Meyer-Häake began importing "EPIGLU" (ethyl α-cyanoacrylate)-a human tissue adhesive-into my country; due to its high cost and the requirement for refrigerated storage, its application was restricted solely to the closure of superficial skin wounds.
In 1978, my country began utilizing its domestically developed "508 Series" multifunctional, rapid-setting medical topical adhesive in clinical surgical procedures. Wu Jieping observed that the widespread application of medical topical adhesives in the surgical field not only effectively met surgical requirements but also served as a catalyst for the advancement of surgical practice. Since 2001, our department has employed these adhesives in 1,076 various surgical cases. We have observed no complications such as bile leakage, hemorrhage, adhesive detachment, or anastomotic leakage, nor have there been any complications directly attributable to the adhesive itself. These results demonstrate that this wound-closure adhesive is safe, effective, rapid, and convenient.
