1.
Control of bone bleeding at the sternum and iliac crest donor sites using a collagen-based composite combined with autologous plasma: results of a randomized controlled trial
Sherman R, Chapman WC, Hannon G, Block JE
Orthopedics. 2001;24((2):):137-41.
Abstract
In a randomized controlled trial, hemostatic effectiveness of a collagen-based composite (experimental group) was compared with standard hemostatic methods (ie, electrocautery and collagen sponge) (control group) at two bone sites. Hemostatic success, time to "controlled bleeding," and time to "complete hemostasis" were determined at the sternal edge following median sternotomy (n=64) and at the iliac crest following bone graft harvest (n=19). Almost twice the percentage of sternal edge patients (83% versus 44%, P=.002) and nearly three times the percentage of iliac crest patients (83% versus 29%, P<.05) achieved complete hemostasis in the experimental group compared to controls. Time to controlled bleeding and complete hemostasis for all bone sites also favored the experimental group over the control group at highly significant levels (P<.0001 for most comparisons). There were no adverse events related to experimental treatment use. The results support the use of this investigational hemostatic agent to control cancellous bone bleeding.
2.
Blood substitution and complement activation
Schott U, Berseus O, Jaremo P
Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica. 1987;31((7):):559-66.
Abstract
Complement activation was studied in 45 patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty under epidural anesthesia. The patients were randomly allocated to three groups. In Group I blood loss was replaced with microaggregate-poor erythrocyte concentrate (SAGM-ERC) plus 3% dextran-60 as plasma substitute, and postoperative analgesia was maintained with intramuscular ketobemidone. In Group II blood loss was replaced as in Group I, but epidural anesthesia was prolonged 12 h postoperatively and kept at a level of T4 with 0.5% bupivacaine. In Group III blood loss was replaced with non-frozen stored plasma plus SAGM-ERC, and postoperative analgesia was maintained with ketobemidone as in Group I. All groups received pre- and postoperative thrombo-prophylaxis with dextran. The plasma concentration of C3a-des-arginine (C3a-desArg) was measured by radioimmunoassay preoperatively, immediately after operation and 3, 6 and 18 h postoperatively. No significant differences in plasma C3 and C4 were found between the groups. C3a-desArg was significantly (P less than 0.01) increased up to 6 h postoperatively in Group III compared with both the preoperative value and Groups I and II. It is demonstrated that infusion of plasma can enhance or initiate endogenous complement activation. Blood component therapy with SAGM-ERC and 3% dextran-60, on the other hand, did not significantly increase the plasma level of C3a-desArg irrespective of the type of postoperative analgesia.