Clinical trial of calcium alginate haemostatic swabs.
The influence of a new haemostatic material on surgical bleeding was evaluated in 100 patients who were prospectively randomized to either normal surgical gauze or calcium alginate swabs used throughout cholecystectomy (n = 40), simple mastectomy (n = 18) or inguinal hernia repair (n = 42). Overall, median (range) blood loss was 91 (3-329) ml for gauze and was significantly reduced by calcium alginate swabs to 72 (2-181) ml (P less than 0.05). Unexpectedly, operation times were also shortened from 45 (17-95) min for gauze to 35 (13-70) min with calcium alginate swabs (P less than 0.02). This reduction in blood loss and operating time was greatest for mastectomy, was still statistically significant for cholecystectomy, but was unimportant in inguinal hernia repair. Calcium alginate haemostatic swabs may become routine in major surgery, particularly where blood loss leads to the need for transfusion.
Department of Surgery, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, London, UK.
S D
SD
Blair
P
P
Jarvis
M
M
Salmon
C
C
McCollum
D000464:Alginates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D008408:Mastectomy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015503:Surgical Sponges / Q000592:standards*
D000464:Alginates; D006490:Hemostatics; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020723:Glucuronic Acid