title: Safety trial of Floseal(®) haemostatic agent in head and neck surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Floseal(®) can be of value in reducing blood loss and haematoma rates. The manufacturer's warnings include allergic reaction, poor wound healing and intravascular thrombosis. We aimed to determine whether Floseal(®) is safe to use in various head  and neck surgery procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective trial was conducted using Floseal(®) in 42 various consecutive head and neck surgery procedures. Adverse incidents were used as the main outcome measure, including allergic reaction, wound breakdown, wound infection and thrombosis.  Secondary outcome measures included haematoma formation, hospital stay, drain times and output.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No adverse incidents were recorded in the trial period. Two patients developed haematomas and required surgical exploration where a bleeding vessel was identified and dealt with.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Floseal(®) is safe to be used in head and neck surgery with no adverse effects. A larger number and a control group are required to ascertain its value in reducing blood loss, haematoma formation, drain usage and hospital stay.
authors.affiliation: North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, UK. atheerujam@hotmail.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ujam
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Awad
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tatla
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Farrell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005781:Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006257:Head / Q000601:surgery*; D006406:Hematoma / Q000601:surgery; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012466:Salivary Gland Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C411004:FloSeal Matrix; D006490:Hemostatics