Gelatin-thrombin-based hemostatic sealant for intraoperative bleeding in vascular surgery

Vascular surgical procedures may be prolonged because of intraoperative bleeding that is not easily controlled by cautery or suture ligation. This trial compared the ability of a new hemostat, FloSeal(TM) Matrix (FM), with a known hemostat, Gelfoam(R) plus thrombin (GT), to control intraoperative bleeding. Patients undergoing vascular surgery procedures at four institutions were entered in the trial. After a bleeding site was identified, patients were randomized to one of the study agents: (1) FM, a cross-linked gelatin of bovine origin combined with thrombin, or (2) GT. The assigned agent was applied and the site observed for bleeding at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 10 min. The primary end point was cessation of bleeding within 10 min for the first identified site treated. Secondary end points were cessation of bleeding within 10 min for all sites and time to cessation of bleeding. Patients were assessed for morbidity at 30 days and 6-8 weeks after the operation. Analysis was performed on an intent-to-treat basis for analysis of hemostasis at 10 min and on protocol-valid patients for analysis of time to hemostasis. From our results we concluded that for patients undergoing vascular surgery procedures, the new topical hemostat, FloSeal Matrix, provides more rapid and effective hemostasis than Gelfoam plus thrombin.