Background: Bleeding is a common and often severe side-effect in vascular surgery. The use of glue is widely accepted to achieve a dry surgical field. The application of sealant is limited when the surface is covered with blood. Aim of this study was to evaluate a new sealant (FloSeal) in patients undergoing vascular surgery.
Patients and methods: Between June 1998 and July 1999 a total of 17 patients with peripheral vascular interventions was included in this investigation. Effectiveness was measured by bleeding severity prior and after application, time to hemostasis, amount of fusion matrix necessary for hemostasis, the potential need for additional hemostatic measures, or the need for reoperations to control the bleeding.
Results: In 15 out of 17 patients bleeding was controlled with FloSeal alone, two patients required further surgical or hemostatic treatment. There were no local or systemic complications after use of this product.
Conclusion: FloSeal is an advantageous hemostatic tool.