These eight volumes, which developed out of the international congress "Update and Future Trends in Fibrin Sealing in Surgical and Nonsurgical Fields" held in November 1992, present the state of the art in fibrin sealing. Initially, fibrin sealant played an important role in surgery. During the past few years, it has been increasingly applied nonsurgically and we can now say that it has become an integral component of medical treatment. The doubts which have been raised by nonusers about the efficacy of fibrin sealant are no longer valid. The correct indication and technique continue to be basic prerequisites for effective treatment. Even today - 20 years after fibrin sealant was first used - the three most prominent effects of fibrin sealant are still hemostasis, sealing of the wound, and support of wound healing. The problems posed by the transmission of viral infections have gained substantially in importance because of the potential transmission of AIDS via fibrin sealant. Fortunately, this is so unlikely today that it no longer represents a cause for concern, which does not mean, however, that research in this field can be discontinued.

I. Cardiovascular Surgery

Blood Saving Strategies and Results of Fibrin Sealing in Cardiovascular Surgery
Reduction of Perioperative Hemorrhage by Anterior Mediastinal Spray Application of Fibrin Glue During Cardiac Reoperations
Randomized Clinical Trial of Fibrin Sealant in Cardiac Surgery Patients Undergoing Resternotomy or Reoperation: A Multicenter Study
Fibrin Sealant: The Cleveland Clinic Experience
The Use of Fibrin Glue in Thoracic Organ Transplantation: Analysis of 4-Year Experience
Reduced Postoperative Bleeding Following Use of Tisseel Fibrin Sealant in 300 Patients Undergoing Open-Heart Surgery
Fibrin Sealant Application to Improve Cardiomyoplasty Management
The Importance of Fibrin Sealing in the Development of Surgical Treatment of Aneurysms of the Aortic Root
Fibrin Glue in Internal Mammary Artery Harvesting
Effect of Fibrin Sealants on Growth and Adhesion of Human Endothelial Cells
Endothelialization of Fibrin-Sealed Aorta Implants
II. Thoracic Surgery
Fibrin Sealant in Tracheobronchial Surgery
Applications of Fibrin Glue in Pulmonary Surgery
The Importance of Biological Glue for the Prevention of Air Leakage in Pulmonary Surgery
Fibrin Sealant in Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery: Indications and Early Results
Thoracoscopy in the Treatment of Primary Recurrent Spontaneous Pneumothorax
The Use of Fibrin Glue in Thoracoscopic Surgery
Videothoracoscopic Bullectomy and Biological Pleurodesis in Spontaneous Pneumothorax
Thoracoscopic Treatment of Recurrent Pneumothorax with Fibrin Sealant
Subpleural Thoracoscopic Applications of Fibrin Glue in Pneumothorax
Application of Fibrin Glue in the Operative Treatment of Chylothorax
Fibrin Glue Pleurodesis for Malignant Pleural Effusions
Fibrin Pleurodesis for Palliative Treatment of the Malignant Pleural Effusion
Percutaneous Needle Biopsy: Fibrin Glue to Prevent Complications
Successful Thoracoscopic Treatment of Large Bullae with Tisseel in Patients with Grave Obstructive Lung Disease
III. Bronchopleural Fistula
Bronchopleural Fistulas: Management of Fistulas with Specially Prepared Spongiosa in Combination with Fibrin Sealant
Postpneumonectomy Bronchial Fistula
Treatment of Postoperative Bronchial Fistulas by Endoscopic Fibrin Application
Postoperative Bronchial Stump Fistula: Treatment with Fibrin Glue and Spongy Bone Graft
Bronchial Stump Insufficiency and Its Treatment
Bronchial Stump Protection and Incidence of Bronchopleural Fistula.