• K L Resch and J L Hick.
• Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital and Clinics, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404, USA. kresch@msn.com
• Pediatr Emerg Care. 2000 Oct 1;16(5):328-31.

ObjectiveDocumentation of use of octylcyanoacrylate adhesives in a pediatric emergency department with reference to patient selection, complications, and parent satisfaction.DesignRetrospective and concurrent chart review of the first 100 patients on which 2-octylcyanoacrylate (2-OCA, Dermabonda) was used in a pediatric emergency department. Additional telephone follow-up was performed for each patient.ResultsThe average patient age was 4.7 years, average laceration size 1.2 cm. Sixteen percent of wounds were repaired with 2-OCA. Three immediate complications involved a minor dehiscence and two eyelid adhesions. Two wound infections and a patient with hematoma and keloid formation were identified as later complications. The vast majority of parents preferred tissue adhesive repair to sutures. Time in department was reduced from 106 minutes to 69 minutes on average (P < 0.0001, CI 26-52).ConclusionsOctylcyanoacrylate adhesives performed well in the daily practice of a pediatric emergency department, and were used for a significant percentage of laceration closures. Convenience, average infection rates, and good parental satisfaction make tissue adhesives a valuable addition to our wound closure techniques. Certain pitfalls occurring during early experience with these adhesives can be recognized and avoided.

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