Randomized Controlled Trial of Octyl Cyanoacrylate Skin Adhesive versus Subcuticular Suture for Skin Closure after Implantable Venous Port Placement.
OBJECTIVE
To compare early outcomes of skin closure with octyl cyanoacrylate skin adhesive versus subcuticular suture closure.


METHODS
Over a 7-month period, 109 subjects (28 men and 81 women; mean age, 58.6 y) scheduled to undergo single-lumen implantable venous port insertion for chemotherapy were randomly assigned to skin closure with either octyl cyanoacrylate skin adhesive or absorbable subcuticular suture after suturing the deep dermal layer. Subjects were followed for episodes of infection or dehiscence within 3 months of port implantation. At 3 months, photographs of the healed incision were obtained and reviewed by a plastic surgeon in a blinded fashion who rated cosmetic scar appearance based on a validated 10-point cosmesis score.


RESULTS
Of subjects, 54 were randomly assigned to skin adhesive, and 55 were randomly assigned to subcuticular suture. No subjects had incision dehiscence. Infection rates at 3 months were similar between groups (2.1% vs 4.0%; P = 1.0). The mean cosmesis scores were 4.40 for skin adhesive and 4.46 for subcuticular suture (P = .898). The superficial skin closure time was 8.6 minutes for suture versus 1.4 minutes for skin adhesive (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Scar cosmesis and patient outcomes did not significantly vary between skin adhesive versus subcuticular suture, although skin closure time was significantly less with skin adhesive.
Department of Radiology, Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3808, 2301 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710.
Jonathan G
JG
Martin
Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic, Maxillofacial, and Oral Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3808, 2301 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710.
Scott T
ST
Hollenbeck
Department of Radiology, Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3808, 2301 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710.
Gemini
G
Janas
Department of Radiology, Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3808, 2301 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710.
Ryan A
RA
Makar
Department of Radiology, Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3808, 2301 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710.
Waleska M
WM
Pabon-Ramos
Department of Radiology, Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3808, 2301 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710.
Paul V
PV
Suhocki
Department of Radiology, Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3808, 2301 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710.
Michael J
MJ
Miller
Department of Radiology, Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3808, 2301 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710.
David R
DR
Sopko
Department of Radiology, Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3808, 2301 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710.
Tony P
TP
Smith
Department of Radiology, Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3808, 2301 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710. Electronic address: charles.kim@duke.edu.
Charles Y
CY
Kim
D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D062905:Central Venous Catheters; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology; D003487:Cyanoacrylates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000209:etiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing
D003487:Cyanoacrylates; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; C100832:octyl 2-cyanoacrylate