Experimental study of a novel fibrin sealant for achieving haemostasis following partial hepatectomy

Background: Ensuring adequate haemostasis is a major difficulty in the fiel d of liver surgery. This study aimed to evaluate a novel fibrin sealant (Vi vostat), designed for autologous preparation, in a porcine model of partial hepatectomy. Methods: Thirty-six Large White Landrace pigs underwent partial left hepate ctomy by finger fracture under portal vascular inflow occlusion. Animals we re randomized to treatment of the resected surface with either fibrin seala nt (Vivostat, n = 12) or regenerated oxidized cellulose gauze (Surgicel, n = 12), or were left untreated (controls, n = 12). Blood loss from the resec tion margin was measured at 2-min intervals for 10 min, and the time to hae mostasis was recorded. Following complete haemostasis the animals recovered for 7 days. Results: Median (range) blood loss in the control group was 94.3 (17.3-467. 0) g, and was significantly reduced with Vivostat (13.8 (5.5-150.9) g) and Surgicel (22.8 (5.8-67.3) g). Median (range) time to haemostasis in control s (31 (12-52) min) was also significantly reduced by Vivostat (8 (0-32) min ) and Surgicel (10 (0-19) min) (both P < 0.001 versus controls, Kruskal-Wal lis test). Conclusion: The novel fibrin sealant, Vivostat, is as effective as Surgicel cellulose gauze in achieving haemostasis after porcine partial hepatic lob ectomy.