Welding characteristics of different albumin species with and without fatty acids.
OBJECTIVE
Albumin solders from different species have been used for laser tissue welding without a complete understanding of possible differences between them. The breaking strength of four different species of serum albumin (human, bovine, porcine, and canine), both fatty acid containing (FAC) and fatty acid free (FAF), was determined to evaluate the welding ability of each type of albumin. STUYDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Acute breaking strengths were determined on canine small bowel by using 50% albumin (FAF and FAC) from human, bovine (BSA), porcine, and canine species.


RESULTS
BSA-FAC and BSA-FAF had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) breaking strength than all other groups; furthermore, BSA-FAC was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than BSA-FAF. There was no significant difference in breaking strength when FAF albumin was compared with FAC albumin from humans, pigs, or dogs.


CONCLUSIONS
These experimental results show that species-specific and fatty acid-specific differences exist when these albumin solders are used for laser tissue welding. This finding suggests that modifications in albumin could be used to improve results through decreased thermal damage and increased weld strength.
Center for Pediatric Urology and Laboratory for Minimally Invasive Urologic Surgery, Department of Urology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA.
C B
CB
Bleustein
D
D
Felsen
D P
DP
Poppas
D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D005227:Fatty Acids; D006358:Hot Temperature; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000379:methods*; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013045:Species Specificity; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014945:Wound Healing; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*
D005227:Fatty Acids; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine