A comparison of the haemostatic effect of Vivostat patient-derived fibrin sealant with oxidised cellulose (Surgicel) in multiple surgical procedures.

Aim: To evaluate the haemostatic properties of Vivostat patient-derived fibrin sealant in a broad range of surgical procedures.

Method: In a prospective, randomised, multicentre, clinical study, typical surgical wounds of 69 patients (cardiothoracic, general, obstetric and gynaecologic, and vascular), requiring intervention to control bleeding, were treated with either Vivostat-derived sealant (n = 35) or Surgicel (n = 34) as required and the time taken to arrest bleeding was assessed.

Results: Compared with Surgicel, the mean time to haemostasis of Vivostat-derived sealant was significantly shorter (1.

The Vivostat application system: a comparison with conventional fibrin sealant application systems.

The method of applying fibrin sealants may affect their physical properties and surgical performance. In this study, the characteristics of a novel fibrin-sealant application system (Vivostat were compared with conventional fibrin sealant spray systems. Delivery rates of Vivostat were highly reproducible in both high and low delivery modes (coefficient of variation [CV] < 1.

Reproducibility of the mechanical properties of Vivostat system patient-derived fibrin sealant.

Conventional "autologous" fibrin sealants, prepared from fibrinogen concentrates are inconsistent in their physical properties; this reflects the wide variation in the fibrinogen level of the single donor plasma from which they are made. In contrast, the Vivostat System produces a fibrin sealant of reproducible concentration and mechanical properties that are independent of the source plasma fibrinogen concentration. Fibrin solution concentrations prepared with the Vivostat System were 22.

Physical characteristics of Vivostat patient-derived sealant. Implications for clinical use.

This study compared the physical characteristics of Vivostat patient-derived sealant with two conventional fibrin sealants, Tissucol and Beriplast. Vivostat sealant exhibited greater elasticity without compromising tensile strength. Vivostat sealant polymerised at low temperatures (4 and 25 degrees C) or at high temperature (70 degrees C) exhibited similar viscoelastic properties as when polymerised at normal physiological temperature (37 degrees C).

Development of a model for measurement of adhesion strength of fibrin sealant to human tissue.

It is crucial for the surgeon to know the physical properties of a surgical sealant. Current test methods of fibrin sealant involving animal testing or in vitro testing of sealant using artificial substrates have little clinical relevance. Most of these test methods also lack accuracy and reproducibility.

The influence of hydrocolloid patch composition on the bioavailability of triamcinolone acetonide in humans.

Triamcinolone acetonide (TACA) is a corticosteroid; it is used in the systemic and topical treatment of a variety of inflammatory conditions, including eczema and psoriasis. Conventionally, for topical use, the drug is formulated in a cream or ointment. However, it has been observed in vitro that percutaneous penetration of corticosteroids can be influenced by hydrocolloid patches.

Comparative kinetics of polymerisation of three fibrin sealants and influence on timing of tissue adhesion.

The clinical performance of fibrin sealants may be influenced by physical properties such as elasticity, tensile strength, and ability to adhere to human tissue. These properties are related to the internal structure of the fibrin sealant that builds as it polymerises. Analysis of the minimum polymerisation time to achieve a functional fibrin clot is clinically important.

An in-vitro study of the effect of hydrocolloid patch occlusion on the penetration of triamcinolone acetonide through skin in man.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of occlusion using hydrocolloid-containing patches on in-vitro triamcinolone acetonide (TACA) penetration of the epidermis while monitoring the uptake of water by the patches as a result of transepidermal water loss. The hydrocolloid patches were a laminate of a pressure-sensitive hydrophobic adhesive (containing a dispersion of 39% of either pectin or carmellose sodium) and a polyethylene film. The diffusion of a representative corticosteroid (TACA) through isolated epidermal sheet was shown to depend on the site from which the skin was removed.

Degradation of (--)-ephedrine in solution and during extraction with diethyl ether.

Significant losses occurred during the extraction of small quantities of ephedrine from aqueous media using either regular or analytical grades of diethyl ether. The losses were, at least in part, caused by reaction of the ephedrine with aldehydic impurities in the ether; three substituted oxazolidines were identified, using g.l.