Hemostasis is a crucial step in cardiac surgery which determines postoperative outcomes. Tissue sealants and glues are necessary to achieve hemostasis in situations where conventional methods are unsuccessful. BioGlue, a commonly used topical hemostatic agent, has been reported to cause systemic embolic complications. We report a case of cerebral embolic shower following the use of BioGlue for posterior aortic suture line bleeding in a 49-year-old lady who underwent triple valve surgery. This report brings to light a rare but devastating complication of BioGlue usage in the present era of complex aortic surgeries. We also postulate a mechanism for BioGlue embolization.
Keywords: BioGlue embolism; Glues; Stroke; Tissue sealants.
© Indian Association of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgeons 2022.