Clinical studies on topical hemostat Avitene in urological surgery

Avitene (Microfibrillar Collagen Hemostat) is a new absorbable topical hemostatic agent, of which action mechanisms are platelet entrapment and activation of platelet clotting factors. It was used clinically on 11 patients for bleeding during urological surgery; bleeding from renal beds, resectional surfaces of kidney, urethras and floor of the pelvis, prostatic capsule and renal pelvis. The patients were 9 males and 2 females aged from 30 to 71 years old. Avitene was applied directly to the source of bleeding in a dry condition after the treatment of large vessel hemostasis. Pressure was applied to the area, and after 3 to 5 minutes, the excess of this material was removed. Avitene was successful in rapidly controlling bleeding in all the patients. No patient had secondary bleeding and complications attributed to the use of this material. This study indicates that Avitene is very effective as a topical hemostatic agent, particularly in urological surgery.