title: Early experience with a novel gelatine-based sponge for local haemostasis in thyroid surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present investigation was to assess the feasibility, efficacy and safety of a novel gelatine-based sponge as a haemostat in thyroid surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was completed by surgeons after having used the sponge in thyroid surgery. The product in general, its effectiveness as a haemostat, its absorption capacity and handling issues were rated. Moreover unexpected complications or side-effects were documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whenever thyroid resections were performed by the members of our study group (11 consultant surgeons in 8 hospitals specialized in thyroid surgery) the new haemostat was used during the period of surveillance. It was mainly rated as "excellent" or "good" by the study group members who used the product in 87 thyroid resections. Its effectiveness as a haemostat, its absorption capacity and handling issues were also rated as excellent. No poor results were reported. Complications occurred in only 2% of cases and were related to inappropriate application.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The evaluated data demonstrated that the sponge has an excellent safety and haemostatic efficacy in surgical application. The product is user-friendly and demonstrated its effectiveness as a haemostat and its excellent absorption capacity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, DRK-Kliniken Westend, Spandauer Damm 130, D-14050 Berlin, Germany. chirurgie@drk-kliniken-westend.de/chirurgie.berlin@web.de.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sielaff
authors.forename: Mechthild
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hermanns
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Uhlig
authors.forename: Tay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abou-Ghazalé
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Steinmüller
mesh_terms: D005781:Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010820:Physicians; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Gelatin-based sponge; biodegradation; blood absorption; haemostat; thyroid surgery