Preventing graft loss caused by hematoma: experimental study.

Hematoma is a common reason for graft loss. This study was intended to investigate the effects of microporous polysaccharide hemospheres (MPH; Arista® AH; Medafor, Inc.) on graft survival, the effect of MPH on graft loss caused by hematoma, and the correlation between neutrophil accumulation and graft survival. A total of 35 adult male Wistar rats were separated into five groups of seven as follows: control 1, saline, MPH, control 2 (hematoma group), and MPH + hematoma. All graft dressing was removed on the fifth postoperative day and graft survival percentage measured. Histopathological and semiquantitative analysis, including inflammatory cell infiltration and subcutaneous inflammation based on neutrophil count, was performed. Graft survival significantly improved in the MPH group (97.86 ± 1.676) compared with the control 1 (91.14 ± 3.671; P = .004) and saline groups (91.57 ± 4.791; P = .014). There was no significant increase in graft survival in the saline group compared with the control 1 group or in the MPH + hematoma group (19.57 ± 14.707) compared with the control 2 group (20.71 ± 16.869; P > .05). The neutrophil count was highest in the control 2 group (177.43 ± 22.464) and significantly decreased in the MPH group (33. 71 ± 8,674) compared with the control 1 group (66.14 ± 5.872; P = .001) and the saline group (65.57 ± 3.309; P= .001). There was no significant decrease in neutrophil count in the MPH + hematoma group (160.00 ± 27.952) compared with the control 2 group (P > .05). It seems that MPH can increase the graft survival, and there is an inverse relationship between graft survival and neutrophil accumulation.