Blood loss occurs in every surgical procedure, even minimally invasive ones. The amount of blood loss intra-operatively depends on a number of factors, including the type of procedure and types of medicine given intraoperatively. One other factor is the method of hemostasis the surgeon uses during the procedure. Not all products work the same. For example, cardiac patients are often placed on anti-coagulant medicines during surgery and may experience a significant amount of bleeding.
Wounds must be effectively closed and bleeding controlled to ensure the success of surgical procedures. Failure to close surgical wounds completely can result in serious or possibly life-threatening complications, including blood loss, tissue damage, infection and excessive scarring. If bleeding persists during a difficult operation, a blood transfusion may be required.
Depending on the location and amount of bleeding, blood loss is stopped by a variety of methods including sutures and staples and topical hemostatic products. An array of solutions is now available to surgeons including fibrin sealants and fibrin glues. They have been used as an adjunct to hemostasis, wound healing, tissue adhesion, and drug delivery. In cardiac surgery, fibrin glues have emerged as valuable tools to improve hemostasis, decrease blood transfusions, improve tissue handling, and pretreat vascular grafts. Fibrin glues and sealants have been available in the U.S. since the late 1990s.
Conventional methods of surgical closure, such as sutures and staples, can be supplemented with sealants during cardiac or vascular procedures where they are prone to leakage or are difficult to use. In the United States approximately 1.4 million procedures annually are appropriate candidates for the use of a sealant. Sealants are most useful in cardiovascular, abdominal/pelvic, and neurosurgical procedures, predominantly for applications involving anastomosis (closure of hollow tubular structures such as blood vessels, the intestines, and fallopian tubes), sealing of surgical incisions, organ resections, and in minimally invasive surgery.
The information provided here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. A licensed healthcare professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.
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