Advances in surgical technique have reduced the occurrence of postoperative complications following liver resection [
During liver resection, the control of bleeding is a major concern. Despite the improvements in anatomic resection and dissection techniques, operative blood loss remains a major problem affecting the prognosis of patients undergoing liver resection [
In order to control diffuse bleeding and to prevent intraperitoneal complications attributed to bleeding, various topical products are used when the conventional methods, such as suture, ligation, or argon beam coagulation, fail. Currently, there are numerous products on the market which are promising a successful outcome for hemostasis. These products include gelatin, collagen, oxidized regenerated cellulose, fibrin sealant glues, and synthetic glues [
TachoSil (fibrin sealant glue) and Surgicel (cellulose based hemostat) are among those with considerable success [
In this randomized clinical trial, 45 patients (18–75 years old) undergoing liver resection for any underlying disease and with resectable mass in Imam Reza Hospital, Tabriz, Iran, during a six-month period from January 2012 till January 2013 were randomly assigned to receive application of cyanoacrylate glue (Glubran 2, GEM S.R.L., Viareggio, Italy) in the aerosol form or be treated by TachoSil (TachoSil, Takeda Pharmaceuticals International GmbH, Zurich, Switzerland) or Surgicel (Surgicel, Ethicon Inc., a Johnson’s and Johnson’s company). Operability of the patients was fully evaluated before procedure by abdominal triphasic computed tomographic (CT) scan, Duplex ultrasonography of liver vessels, chest X-rays, and chest or brain CT scans when indicated. Patients were randomly assigned to these 3 groups by a web-based calculator available in this web address:
Glubran 2 is a synthetic surgical glue, Communauté Européenne (CE) certificated for internal and external use, with haemostatic, adhesive, sealer, and bacteriostatic properties. When used in moist environment, it quickly polymerizes into a thin elastic film which has high tensile strength and firmly adheres to the anatomy of the tissue on which it is applied. Once it is polymerized, Glubran 2 acts as a bioinert material. We used 1 package of 1 mL Glubran 2 for each patient.
TachoSil, a sterile, ready-to-use, absorbable surgical patch consisting of an equine collagen sponge coated with human fibrinogen and human thrombin measuring 9.5 × 4.8 × 0.5 cm, was applied on the resection surfaces after being moistened with physiological saline. The yellow-coated side (active side) of the patch was held against the resection surface for 3 minutes to ensure uniform contact. The resection site(s) had to be covered ≥1 cm beyond its margin, and if >1 patch was needed, they had to overlap. We used only one package of TachoSil for each patient.
Surgicel absorbable hemostat is a sterile absorbable knitted fabric prepared by the controlled oxidation of regenerated cellulose. The fabric is white with a pale yellow cast and has a faint caramel-like aroma. It is strong and can be sutured or cut without fraying. After Surgicel has been saturated with blood, it swells into a brownish or black gelatinous mass which aids in the formation of a clot, thereby serving as a haemostatic adjunct in the control of local hemorrhage. When used properly in minimal amounts, Surgicel hemostat is absorbed from sites of implantation with practically no tissue reaction. In this study, a 10 × 10 cm product was used for each patient.
All patients with resectable liver lesions of any size during this period were included in this study. Liver resection were done by “clamp and sew” technique following the anatomic cut surfaces without the use of any specialized liver cutting system such as Waterjet systems. Patients with oozing from the resection site despite proper homeostasis effort (ligation, suture ligation, argon beam coagulation, or electro-cauterization) were included. Patients with chronic liver disease, coagulopathy not corrected with treatment before the surgery, death during surgery, operation discontinuation due to severe acidosis or coagulopathy, acute liver failure diagnosed with severe acidosis, and severe uncontrolled INR were excluded. Patients in need of resurgery due to bleeding or bile leak from liver other than resection site were also excluded.
This clinical trial was approved by the Ethics Committee of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran, and was also registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, and informed written consent was obtained from each patient before surgery.
The primary objective was to compare time to hemostasis between groups. The largest resection area (target wound) was assessed for time to hemostasis. Hemostasis was achieved when there was no visible bleeding from the resection wound. Counting the time to hemostasis began when TachoSil, Surgicel, or Glubran 2 was applied. Another treatment method was used or repeated if hemostasis was not achieved after 5 minutes.
Secondary end points were evaluated with special emphasis on the total drainage volume through the Jackson-Pratt drains (which were inserted at the end of operation in the resection site), the total postoperative duration of drainage, the measurement of total volume of transfused blood products, and also by abdominal ultrasonography 2 days after operation. The operative and clamping techniques used, segments resected, and hemostatic measures were recorded. Blood loss was calculated by recording the blood substitute administered and total number of sponges used and total amount of blood in the suctions.
Age, gender, type of hepatectomy, operation time, operative blood loss, and postoperative complications (bleeding, bile leakage, and wound infection) were compared in the three groups.
Blinding for surgeons was not possible owing to the nature of the used materials’ consistency (spongy TachoSil knitted fabric Surgicel and liquid Glubran 2) and their packages. The postoperative assessors were completely blinded to which agents were used for each patient.
All data were analyzed using SPSS statistical package version 16.0 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL, USA). Continuous data with normal distribution are given as mean ± standard deviation, otherwise as median. Categorical variables were compared by
The given data were compared between groups using one-way ANOVA. Student’s
In this study, 45 patients undergoing liver resection were randomly assigned to receive TachoSil (
Indications for liver resections.
TachoSil |
Surgicel |
Glubran 2 |
|
---|---|---|---|
Hepatocellular carcinoma | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Hilar cholangiocarcinoma | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Adrenal cancer metastasis | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Breast cancer metastasis | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Colorectal metastasis | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Biliary carcinoma | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Hemangioma | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Hepatic adenoma | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Focal nodular hyperplasia | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Unilocular hydatid cyst | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Multilocular hydatid cyst | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Table
Baseline findings between groups.
TachoSil |
Surgicel |
Glubran 2 |
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|
Age (years) |
|
|
|
NS |
Gender | ||||
Male | 5 (33.3%) | 6 (40%) | 7 (46.7%) | NS |
Female | 10 (66.7%) | 9 (60%) | 8 (53.3%) | |
Hemoglobin (mg/dL) |
|
|
|
NS |
NS: not significant.
Intraoperative and in-hospital findings are shown in Table
Intraoperative and in-hospital findings between groups.
TachoSil | Surgicel | Glubran 2 |
| |
---|---|---|---|---|
Intraoperative bleeding (mL) |
|
|
|
0.4 |
FFP during surgery | 0 |
|
|
0.21 |
Total transfused packed cell during surgery (units) |
|
|
|
0.1 |
Time to homeostasis |
|
|
|
0.43 |
Suction volume (mL) after hemostasis |
|
|
|
0.22 |
|
|
|
|
0.59 |
Abdominal pads used after hemostasis |
|
|
|
0.51 |
Bleeding after homeostasis | 0 | 5 (33.3%) | 2 (13.3%) | 0.004* |
First day drainage |
|
|
|
0.02* |
Second day drainage |
|
|
|
0.77 |
Third day drainage |
|
|
|
0.25 |
Time to extract the drain (day) |
|
|
|
0.06 |
Bile leak | 1 (6.7%) | 3 (20%) | 1 (6.7%) | 0.4 |
Packed cell during hospitalization (units) | 5 (33.3%) | 4 (26.7%) | 2 (13.30%) | 0.6 |
*
Bile leakage occurred in 5 cases including one in each group which was managed with percutaneous drainage (Table
FFP was transfused during postoperative period because of coagulopathy only in one patient (6.7%) in TachoSil group. The patient had undergone right hepatectomy because of metastasis from colorectal cancer.
Resurgery due to bleeding from the liver resection site was not needed in any of the cases. Noninfectious collection was also observed in 5 patients during control ultrasonography, including one left hepatectomy in Glubran 2 group, one left hepatectomy and one segmentectomy in Surgicel, and one right hepatectomy and one segmentectomy in TachoSil group. These were managed conservatively.
There were also two major complications in Surgicel group; perihepatic abscess (defined by frank pussy aspirate, positive bacterial culture, and patient’s fever) in a patient who underwent segmentectomy was managed with percutaneous drainage. There was also a massive hematoma (750 cc) around hepatectomy site in a case with right hepatectomy that was not drained with the implanted drain and was managed with percutaneous drainage two weeks later.
Mean hospital stay was
TachoSil has been used in different surgeries, and its efficacy is well established [
Briceño et al. [
In a study on bovine, Takács et al. [
In the only study evaluating cyanoacrylate products and Surgicel in twelve sheep, Ellman et al. [
There are some case reports about complications due to Surgicel use including granuloma, foreign body reaction, and neurologic complications [
Despite better results in TachoSil and higher complications in Surgicel group, overall, the differences between groups were not significant, and none of them has any significant superiority to others. However, it is important to consider the expenses and cost of each agent before choosing one of them as hemostatic agent. In our study, all these product were purchased from local distributors. Each products price was as follows: Surgicel (10 × 10 cm) 34 US$, TachoSil (9.5 × 4.8 × 0.5 cm) 145 US$, and Glubran 2 (1 mL) 270 US$. We used only one package of each of these agents for each patient.
Glubran 2 is the most expensive topical agent with no significantly better efficacy, and Surgicel has higher complications unlike its lower price. Considering better results of TachoSil, it is possible to consider TachoSil as the best option for hemostasis control after liver resection; however, further studies are needed to confirm these findings because of our small group and diversity of our patients (segmental versus major hepatectomies, malignant versus benign conditions, and long versus short time operations). We use hemostatic agents only when oozing after mechanical hemostasis continues. Many times, we do not need any of these agents for hemostasis if we follow strict anatomical plains for liver resection. We have performed 49 liver resections in the same period without the need of any hemostatic agents. In our experience, none of these hemostatic agents could be used for stopping major bleeding from liver vasculature especially in trauma patients. Due to our inclusion criteria (continuous oozing after surgical hemostasis), we did not include these patients in our study.
The results of the current study are indicative of slight differences in hemostasis control of TachoSil, Surgicel, and Glubran 2. Due to higher complications in Surgicel group, although, less expensive than the other two agents, its application as a hemostatic agent after liver resection is not recommended. Better results in TachoSil in comparison to the other two are indicative of its better efficacy and superiority in controlling hemostasis.
The authors have no conflict of interests and all products were provided by the Vice Chancellor for Research, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran, with the help of local distributors.
This research was financially supported by the Vice Chancellor for Research, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran.