Abstract: Fast curing surgical adhesives and sealants contain an NCO-terminated hydrophilic urethane prepolymer derived from an aromatic diisocyanate and a polyol. Substantially all the aromatic diisocyanate used to prepare the NCO-terminated hydrophilic urethane prepolymer is in the para form. Optionally, the aromatic diisocyanate is substituted with at least one electron withdrawing group, such as, for example, a fluorine group.