Biocompatibility of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Histoacryl) in cervical structures of rats: prospective in vivo study

The incidence of injury to the thoracic duct during neck dissection is as high as 4% [1, 2]. This complication can present significant management challenges. The current management strategy for the treatment of chyle leakage varies depending on the clinician's experience and interpretation of the medical literature [3]. Complications include fluid and electrolyte disturbances, protein loss, skin necrosis, fistula, and carotid blowout [1]. Currently, n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA), a solution that can be used to prevent chyle leakage, meets all requirements described in ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 10993 for internal use [4]. Promising results have recently been reported by investigators who used NBCA to treat chyle leakage [2, 5, 6, 7, 8].

NBCA is a unique substance that polymerizes within 5–6 seconds in the presence of ionic substances, such as moisture, blood, or tissue fluids and reaches the final stage of hardening in 60 seconds [7]. According to its 2013 material safety data sheet, NBCA is classified as nonhazardous and noncarcinogenic. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved NBCA for use as a topical skin adhesive. However, NBCA is not approved for subcutaneous use. The polymerized adhesive is not absorbed by any tissues. NBCA has been used extensively for various clinical applications for 40 years [9]. On September 25, 2000, the FDA approved Trufill (Cordis Neurovascular, Miami, FL, USA) as an internal embolic agent for cerebral arteriovenous malformations [10]. Trufill is a formulation comprising NBCA monomer (over 90%, with other ingredients), ethiodized oil, and tantalum powder. Moreover, NBCA is used for various other clinical applications, including arterial embolization, variceal sclerotherapy, and fistula closure [10, 11, 12, 13].

Before using NBCA as a treatment for chyle leakage, its biocompatibility with cervical structures should be examined. In this study, we used a rat model to evaluate the biocompatibility of NBCA in cervical deep tissues.

The implanted material was tolerated locally, with only slight neovascularization and no cell or tissue degeneration. All animals exhibited normal weight gain (P < 0.001) (Table 1) and displayed normal behavior without any symptoms of distress throughout the study. There was no recognizable inflammatory reaction, foreign body reaction, or fibrosis in the 30 control samples, which were dominated by fibers in the extracellular matrix and fibroblasts were suspended on light microscopic examination.

Table 1
Tissue reaction according to time after n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate implantation

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Experimental tissues were collected beginning from 30 days after implantation of NBCA and they revealed chronic inflammatory reactions (Fig. 1). Histological analysis showed that from days 30 to 360, the number of lymphoplasma cells, neutrophils, and multinuclear giant cells decreased from 100 (range, 70–100) to 30 (range, 30–50), 2 (range, 2–30) to 0 (range, 0–2), and 22 (range, 16–34) to 16 (range, 12–22) cells per HPF, respectively (Table 1).

Fig. 1
Histology of experimental tissues was examined under a light microscope. (A–D) Normal control tissues were presented. (E–L) Black triangles indicated n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate. (I–L) Connective tissue surrounding n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate was stained blue. H&E, hematoxylin and eosin; MT, Masson's trichrome (light microscopy, ×200).

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After 30 days, microscopic observations revealed mild congestion and old hemorrhage with hemosiderin-laden macrophages. Histology showed slight diffuse infiltration of inflammatory cells, which significantly decreased over time (lymphoplasma cells, P = 0.010; neutrophils, P = 0.017). Hyaloid material was enclosed, reflecting foreign body reactions. The polymerization of NBCA was found to occlude the vasculature. Some portions of the vasculature were replaced by fibrosis. Endothelial regeneration was prominent.

From 90–180 days, the glue appeared as hyaloid material without degeneration of cells or surrounding tissues. During this period, 13–30 multinuclear giant cells were observed per HPF, including the presences of a few macrophages. There was no significant difference in the number of multinuclear giant cells throughout the entire study period (P = 0.287). The whole layers of the vasculature were completely regenerated.

After 360 days, histologic analysis revealed slight formation of noncellular fibrous connective tissue, slight infiltration of inflammatory cells, and focal accumulation of multinuclear giant cells (Fig. 2). The fibrosis measured 266 µm (range, 210–415 µm). The skin could be slid and pinched up. The level of fibrosis was Common Toxicity Criteria ver. 4.0 grade 1 during the entire study period without further thickening (P = 0.600). However, maturation of fibrosis progressed gradually.

Fig. 2
Time series plots of tissue reaction show the local histologic effects of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate on a living tissue. Median values are connected by lines. Upper and lower whiskers represent their maximum and minimum values. (A) All animals exhibited normal weight gain. (B–D) Inflammation significantly decreased while the foreign body reaction remained stable over the 1-year observation period. (E) The level of fibrosis was Common Toxicity Criteria ver. 4.0 grade 1 during the entire study period without further thickening.

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No signs of decomposition or resorption of NBCA were detectable. Cell or tissue necrosis or de novo neoplasia was not observed at any time point. There was no evidence of abscess formation.

The purpose behind investigating the biocompatibility of NBCA is to ensure its safety for cervical deep tissue application. In this study, we assessed the local histological effects of the implanted material in a living tissue. Inflammation significantly decreased, while the foreign body reaction remained stable over the 1-year observation period. The severity of fibrosis was Common Toxicity Criteria ver. 4.0 grade 1 during the entire study period; however, maturation of fibrosis progressed gradually. Precautions are needed with respect to preventing a sustained foreign body reaction and fibrosis although NBCA appeared to be a promising treatment for prevention of chyle leakage.

Chyle leakage is a potential complication of neck surgery that can result from lymphatic injury. The site of injury is commonly the terminus of the thoracic duct with the left subclavian vein [1]. Chyle leakage is accompanied by malnutrition and compromised immunity. Because a substantial amount of protein is transported in chyle, a sustained chyle leak can result in protein loss, leading to fluid shifts and increased metabolic demand. This complication can present significant treatment challenges.

Many physicians begin with conservative treatment, including adequate drainage, parenteral nutrition, and modified enteral feeding [3]. Modification of enteral nutrition involves a fat-free or low-fat diet supplemented with medium-chain triglyceride oil. A somatostatin analog could be used because it decreases the absorption of triglycerides [6]. A persistent leak necessitates neck exploration and ligation of the lymphatic(s), occasionally requiring muscle flap coverage. However, surgical intervention can considerably increase morbidity and mortality. Smoke and Delegge [1] reported that the postoperative mortality rate following ligation of the thoracic duct was 33%, with an overall mortality of 14%. It is difficult to reoperate in the same field, and it is not easy to identify and ligate the leaking lymphatic(s).

Recent reports have described the use of NBCA to stop chyle leakage with encouraging outcomes (Table 2). Muthusami et al. reported a case in which NBCA was successfully used to treat persistent chyle leakage following radical neck dissection [6]. In an effort to stop the lymphatic leak, 0.5 mL of NBCA was injected into the leakage point. In a case series, Blythe et al. [2] applied the maximum amount of NBCA, 1 mL per injection, to the damaged thoracic ducts during neck dissection. Patients in the study had no postoperative chyle leakage or other complications. However, these reports did not address the longterm safety or biocompatibility of NBCA.

Table 2
Summary of recent studies using n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate to stop chyle leakage

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Many studies have described the use of NBCA as a tissue adhesive. NBCA has been used with variable success rates for the treatment of bone fractures, ossicular fixation, embolization, fistulas, and hemostasis of esophageal varices or bleeding gastric ulcers as well as for vascular or tracheal anastomoses [7, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25]. These remarkable studies attempted to show the potential applications of NBCA. However, the results achieved in these studies, did not provide evidence for the biocompatibility of NBCA in cervical deep tissues. Our current preclinical study demonstrated the detailed biocompatibility of NBCA in cervical deep tissue applications, reporting the potential risk of NBCA in the prevention of chyle leakage.

Cyanoacrylate adhesives are liquid monomers that polymerize quickly upon contact with tissue surfaces [12]. Polymerization of NBCA (Histoacryl, B. Braun; Glubran 2, GEM S.r.l., Viareggio, Italy; Trufill, Cordis Neurovascular) begins with contact with hydroxide ions, which are dissolved in water, ambient air moisture, and body fluids [10]. During the exothermic reaction, ester monomers polymerize to form long cyanoacrylate polymer chains, resulting in a stable, water-resistant adhesive bond. Cyanoacrylate adhesives have various uses, and considerable research is underway to examine the application of certain cyanoacrylate products in a drug delivery system [12].

The possible problems associated with cyanoacrylate include local thermal damage and a low level of toxicity [26]. Attention should be paid to the generated heat because NBCA causes a highly exothermic polymerization reaction [2, 4, 7, 9, 16]. NBCA is not bioabsorbable; the body cannot break it down [12]. NBCA degrades slowly and forms few degradation products [10, 27]. However, in the current study, we observed very little degradation of NBCA. NBCA should be applied cautiously to avoid placement in an unintended location. Improper placement may cause unnecessary adhesion, ulceration, local inflammation, and abscess formation. In our view, NBCA should be used only after carefully weighing the risks and benefits. NBCA users must decide individually whether NBCA is the appropriate material for the purpose, depending on the area of application.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first preclinical study of NBCA application in the cervical deep tissues of an animal model to ensure the 1-year biocompatibility. Schneider and Otto [7] investigated the in vitro and in vivo effects of NBCA and analyzed the scientific literature. They reported that the effectiveness of NBCA as a soft-tissue adhesive depended on the surgical environment, purpose, amount used, and application technique. Optimized methods should be developed for each individual purpose. When using NBCA to prevent chylous fistulas in the neck, the visibility of the fistula is ascertained first. Surrounding structures are retracted so that they will not adhere to the NBCA. Blythe et al. [2] applied chloramphenicol 1% eye ointment to the carotid artery, the internal jugular vein, and the vagus nerve. Targeted application could be used to minimize the amount of NBCA required.

Our study had 3 limitations. First, a bias may have been induced in the unidirectional measurement of fibrosis based on paraffin sections, although efforts were made to include the thickest portion. Second, we focused only on the biocompatibility of NBCA in the cervical deep tissues of an animal model, and we only observed the reaction between NBCA and the surrounding tissue or organs. Treatment efficacy should be evaluated after an animal model of chyle leakage has been developed. Third, the amount of thermal injury was not investigated. The experimental research would be followed to analyze the severity of the generated heat. In addition, we assessed the histologic changes for only 1 year. A subsequent study should be performed to ascertain the long-term outcomes.

Our findings showed that NBCA was tolerated locally with only slight neovascularization and it did not cause cell or tissue degeneration in the cervical area of rats. Because of its biocompatibility profile and ability to polymerize in a moist environment, NBCA may be suitable for the treatment of chyle leakage. However, precautions are needed with respect to preventing a sustained foreign body reaction and fibrosis.