Hemostats, sealants, and adhesives III: a new update as well as cost and regulatory considerations for components of the surgical toolbox

The hemostat, sealant, and adhesive components of the surgical toolbox continue to evolve and enter clinical practice at a rapid rate. The goal of this comprehensive, sequential review is to update these components to include those now available (February 2012) as well as to explore cost and regulatory factors that impact the development and use of these materials. A unique system of definitions for organizing these components based on group, category, and class is used as a means of improving the understanding and appropriate use of these materials. The system will be used here to present the most recent additions to the toolbox, which are evaluated based on safety, efficacy, usability, and cost. These new additions include pooled human plasma fibrinogen and thrombin embedded in an equine collagen patch for cardiac surgical hemostasis, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and human serum albumin for lung surgical pneumostasis, modified PEG and trilysine amine for spinal sealing, octyl and butyl lactoyl cyanoacrylate for vascular sealing, and a variety of octyl and butyl cyanoacrylates with or without dyes and/or polyester mesh for skin closure with the creation of a bacterial barrier. The system of definitions will also be used to clarify key strategies in the current health care environment for reducing costs and for increasing understanding of Food and Drug Administration regulatory decisions for these materials.