In modern surgical practices, controlling bleeding is crucial, ranging from minor cuts to severe internal injuries, which poses higher risks due to their concealed nature.The failure to achieve haemostasis during surgery can lead to complications such as excessive bleeding, prolonged operation times, and increased risks to the patient’s well-being. Traditional techniques like suturing, electrocautery, and manual compression are commonplace for controlling bleeding, there are scenarios where these methods fall short. This gap in efficacy spurred the development of innovative haemostatic agents designed to enhance bleeding management during surgery and potentially minimize associated complications. Among these advancements lies the remarkable addition of the flowable gelatin haemostatic matrix.

Understanding Flowable Haemostatic Matrix

Flowable haemostatic matrices are biocompatible, absorbable substances designed to promote clot formation and halt bleeding at surgical sites. Composed of materials such as biopolymers, gelatin, or other haemostatic agents, these matrices come in liquid or paste-like forms. They can conform to irregular surfaces and penetrate deep into tissues, allowing for precise application and effective coverage over the bleeding site. These groundbreaking matrices have found widespread applications across diverse surgical specialities including general, cardiothoracic, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, orthodontics, sinus surgery, and trauma care.

How Flowable Haemostatic Matrices Work

Upon application, these matrices undergo a transformation from a liquid to a gel-like consistency. This transformation is often triggered by contact with blood or physiological fluids. Once in place, they promote haemostasis through several mechanisms:

• Absorption and Aggregation: The matrix absorbs blood and concentrates platelets and clotting factors, facilitating clot formation.
• Promotion of Coagulation Cascade: Some haemostatic matrices contain thrombin whenever needed or other clotting factors, which accelerate the body’s natural coagulation cascade, leading to quicker clot formation.
• Matrix Degradation: Over the time, the matrix is gradually absorbed by the body as the wound heals, leaving behind a stable clot.

Various brands of flowable hemostatic matrix products are available in the market: –

Floseal: Manufactured by Baxter, Floseal comprises bovine-derived gelatin matrix granules and human thrombin. This combination serves the purpose of facilitating clot formation and promoting hemostasis, particularly in surgical procedures where controlling bleeding is crucial.

flowable hemostatic matrix

Surgiflo: Produced by Ethicon, Surgiflo contains porcine-derived gelatin matrix to facilitate clotting and control bleeding in various surgical procedures. Surgiflo demonstrates faster readiness for use and retains a more consistent viscosity.

Surgiflo

Collastat: Manufactured by DalimTissen, is a flowable haemostatic agent that controls bleeding in tissues during surgery. It’s a flowable agent that combines bovine-derived collagen matrix with thrombin. Controlling active bleeding within 1~5 minutes.

Collastat

FLOGEL®: Developed by Aegis Lifesciences, a flowable Gelatin Haemostatic Matrix, made from an absorbable gelatin sponge powder, available in a prefilled syringe. This off-white (slightly yellow) formulation serves as a swift solution for managing bleeding in intricate and hard-to-access surgical areas. It’s designed to be applied directly to bleeding sites and becomes operational within 30 seconds upon a consistent saline mix. However, avoid injecting FLOGEL into blood vessels due to the associated risk of embolization. It’s time to achieve haemostasis typically ranges from 2 to 5 minutes.

FLOGEL® – Developed by Aegis Lifesciences

In essence, flowable gelatin haemostatic matrices transcend the limitations of conventional agents, emerging as indispensable assets in managing intraoperative bleeding. They represent a pivotal breakthrough in addressing the complexities of surgical scenarios, ensuring greater efficacy and improved patient outcomes.