Toshitaka Takagi1, Hiroyuki Tsujimoto2, Hiroko Torii3, Yuki Ozamoto3, Akeo Hagiwara4. 1. Department of Medical Life System, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan; Department of Internal Medicine, Hushimi Okamoto Hospital, Kyoto, Japan. 2. Department of Medical Life System, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan. 3. Department of Medical Life System, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan; Department of Surgery, Kusatsu General Hospital, Shiga, Japan. 4. Department of Medical Life System, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: marina.1108@zeus.eonet.ne.jp.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVE: Uncontrolled surgical bleeding is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and hospital cost. Topical hemostatic agents available today have problems controlling hemostatic effects; furthermore, their handling is difficult and they are unsafe. METHODS: We devised a new hemostatic agent comprising gelatin sponge and film designed to be applied to the bleeding site, thereby creating a topical hemostatic agent made of gelatin alone. The gelatin was prepared by alkali treatment to eliminate viral activity. Hemostatic effects, surgical handling, and tissue reactions of the materials, namely a two-layer sheet of gelatin, TachoSil, and gelatin sponge, were evaluated using 21 dogs' spleens. RESULTS: The two-layer gelatin sheet and gelatin sponge exhibited superior hemostatic effects (100% hemostasis completed) compared with TachoSil (0-17% hemostasis). The gelatin matrix immediately absorbed blood flowing from wounds and activated the autologous components in the absorbed blood that promoted coagulation at the bleeding site. The two-layer gelatin sheet had the best surgical handling among the evaluated materials. Materials made of gelatin were associated with fewer inflammatory reactions compared with materials of TachoSil. CONCLUSION: The two-layer sheet of gelatin is a useful topical agent because of its superior hemostatic effects and usability, and is associated with a lower risk of transmitting diseases and inflammatory reactions.
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVE: Uncontrolled surgical bleeding is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and hospital cost. Topical hemostatic agents available today have problems controlling hemostatic effects; furthermore, their handling is difficult and they are unsafe. METHODS: We devised a new hemostatic agent comprising gelatin sponge and film designed to be applied to the bleeding site, thereby creating a topical hemostatic agent made of gelatin alone. The gelatin was prepared by alkali treatment to eliminate viral activity. Hemostatic effects, surgical handling, and tissue reactions of the materials, namely a two-layer sheet of gelatin, TachoSil, and gelatin sponge, were evaluated using 21 dogs' spleens. RESULTS: The two-layer gelatin sheet and gelatin sponge exhibited superior hemostatic effects (100% hemostasis completed) compared with TachoSil (0-17% hemostasis). The gelatin matrix immediately absorbed blood flowing from wounds and activated the autologous components in the absorbed blood that promoted coagulation at the bleeding site. The two-layer gelatin sheet had the best surgical handling among the evaluated materials. Materials made of gelatin were associated with fewer inflammatory reactions compared with materials of TachoSil. CONCLUSION: The two-layer sheet of gelatin is a useful topical agent because of its superior hemostatic effects and usability, and is associated with a lower risk of transmitting diseases and inflammatory reactions.