Comparison of a new fibrin sealant with standard topical hemostatic agents.
BACKGROUND
Bleeding following liver resection continues to be a significant morbidity of the procedure. Fibrin sealants represent an improvement over conventional topical hemostatic agents, because they contain components that actively form clot. However, most available agents contain nonhuman protein, which represents an immunologic risk.


OBJECTIVE
An investigational surgical fibrin sealant (Crosseal; American Red Cross, Washington, DC) composed of human clottable proteins and human thrombin is more effective than standard topical hemostatic agents in reducing the time required to achieve hemostasis after liver resection.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, controlled trial.


METHODS
Fifteen major referral centers in the United States and the United Kingdom.


METHODS
After liver resection using standard surgical techniques, 121 patients seen between May 1999 and May 2000 were randomized to treatment with a 2-component fibrin sealant (n=58) or to standard topical hemostatic agents, used singly or in combination (n=63). Up to 10 mL of Crosseal was administered by a spray applicator, as recommended by the manufacturer, whereas agents used in the control group were applied according to their instructions for use.


METHODS
The primary outcome measured was time to hemostasis. Secondary outcomes measured included blood loss between application of the hemostatic agent and closure of the abdomen, duration of postoperative biliary drainage, and the occurrence of complications, defined a priori as reoperation for any reason, development of abdominal fluid collections, or bilious appearance of drained fluid for at least 1 day postoperatively.


RESULTS
The mean time to hemostasis was 282 seconds with Crosseal, compared with 468 seconds with standard agents (2-sided; P =.06), for the 116 efficacy-evaluable patients. Hemostasis was achieved within 10 minutes in 53 patients (91.4%) treated with the study fibrin sealant and in 44 control patients (69.8%) (2-sided; P =.003). Intraoperative blood loss was similar in the 2 groups. In the Crosseal group, the percentage of patients developing postoperative complications was 17.2%, compared with 36.5% in the control group (2-sided; P =.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with the use of standard topical hemostatic agents, Crosseal fibrin sealant significantly reduced the time to achieve hemostasis following liver resection. Patients treated with the new fibrin sealant also experienced significantly fewer postoperative complications.
Schwartz
Myron
M
Department of Surgery, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA. myron.schwartz@mountsinai.org
Madariaga
Juan
J
Hirose
Ryutiao
R
Shaver
Timothy R
TR
Sher
Linda
L
Chari
Ravi
R
Colonna
John O
JO
Heaton
Nigel
N
Mirza
Darius
D
Adams
Reid
R
Rees
Myrddin
M
Lloyd
David
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D006490:Hemostatics