Fibrin Sealant Patch for the Management of Intractable Bleeding From an LVAD Apex Cannula

Background: Intractable bleeding from the apical cannulation site of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a dreaded complication. Case report: A 52-year-old male suffering from dilative cardiomyopathy (DCM) with fixed pulmonary hypertension underwent reoperative LVAD implantation after previous mitral valve surgery. The patient underwent three rethoracotomies for bleeding from the apex cannulation site without achieving hemostasis. Conventional techniques and application of fibrin sealants and polymeric sealing devices did not fix the problem. The bleeding stopped after application of the EVARREST® Fibrin Sealant Patch (FSP), and he needed no further transfusions. Conclusion: This patch might become a useful tool for intractable bleeding problems in LVAD surgery.

One-Time Cortical Lamina: A New Technique for Horizontal Ridge Augmentation. A Case Series

The aim of this case series is to introduce the One-Time Cortical Lamina Technique, a simplification of the F.I.R.S.T. (Fibrinogen-Induced Regeneration Sealing Technique) in cases where only horizontal augmentation is needed. The indications for this technique are ASA2 and ASA1 anxious patients. Pre-requisites for this surgical technique are: a good amount of keratinized tissue, sufficient alveolar ridge width for placement of implants, thickness of vestibular bone at CBCT planning less than 1 mm with risk of threads exposure. Five patients with horizontal deficiencies were selected to test the efficacy of this approach. The defects were augmented using a porcine cortical bone lamina in combination with collagenated porcine bone mixed with fibrin sealant. The cortical lamina was placed only buccal to the implants and stabilized with fibrin sealant, without pins or screws. Upon completion of the implant surgery, healing abutments were connected to the implants and the soft tissue sutured around them. The healing was uneventful in all cases. Six months after surgery impressions for final restorations were taken and screwed crowns delivered. The new volume had hard consistency and the follow-up CBCT measured an average of 4.17 mm of horizontal bone augmentation. One to three years of follow up demonstrated the maintenance of vestibular volume, hard consistency and clinical stability. Intraoral X-rays showed no marginal bone loss. An advantage of this technique could be the one stage surgery that creates a stable environment for regeneration from day one.

Effect of Fibrin Sealant on Knee Function Restoration Following Total Knee Replacement: A Meta-analysis

Objective: The aim of present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fibrin sealant on knee function restoration following total knee replacement. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Cohrane library, and Embase were searched up to August 2021. All prospective randomized controlled trial involving fibrin sealant treatment for total knee replacement were included in this meta-analysis. Range of motion, total blood loss, blood transfusion rate, hemoglobulin reduction, hospital stay, and complication were calculated using RevMan 5.4 software.Results: Totally 23 randomized clinical trials involving 2267 patients (1136 patients for fibrin sealant group and 1131 patients for control group) were finally included. The results indicated that that the usage of fibrin sealant in total knee replacement can reduce the total blood loss [95% (-935.81, -351.70), P<0.0001], transfusion rate [95%CI (0.47, 0.90), P=0.01], hemoglobulin reduction [95%CI (-2.94, -0.74), P=0.001] and hospital stay [95%CI (-1.76, -0.42), P=0.001] without increasing the rate of complication [95%CI (-0.04, 0.02), P=0.42], but cannot increase the knee range of motion [95%CI (-1.17,9.29), P=0.13].Conclusion: The usage of fibrin sealant can effectively reduce the total blood loss, transfusion rate, hemoglobulin reduction and hospital stay without increasing the rate of complication, but cannot increase the knee range of motion

Rapid closure technique in suboccipital decompression

Objective Suboccipital decompression has been established as standard therapeutic procedure for raised intracranial pressure caused by mass-effect associated pathologies in posterior fossa. Several different surgical techniques of dural closure have been postulated to achieve safe decompression. The aim of this study was to examine the differences between fibrin sealant patch (FSP) and dural reconstruction (DR) in suboccipital decompression for acute mass-effect lesions. Methods We retrospectively analyzed our institutional data of patients who underwent suboccipital decompression due to spontaneous intracerebellar hemorrhage, cerebellar infarction and acute traumatic subdural hematoma between 2010 and 2019. Two different dural reconstruction techniques were performed according to the attending neurosurgeon: (1) fibrin sealant patch (FSP), and (2) dural reconstruction (DR) including the use of dural patch. Complications, operative time, functional outcome and the necessity of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VP Shunt) were assessed and further analyzed. Results Overall, 87 patients were treated at the authors’ institution (44 in FSP group, 43 in DR group). Glasgow coma scale on admission and preoperative coagulation state did not differ between the groups. Postoperatively, we found no difference in cerebrospinal fluid leakage or chronic hydrocephalus between the groups (p = 0.47). Revision rates were 2.27% (1/44 patients) in the FSP group, compared to 16.27% (7/43) in the DR group (p < 0.023). Operative time was significantly shorter in the FSP group (90.3 ± 31.0 min vs. 199.0 ± 48.8 min, p < 0.0001). Conclusion Rapid closure technique in suboccipital decompression is feasible and safe. Operative time is hereby reduced, without increasing complication rates.

Intraoperative anaphylaxis due to aprotinin after local application of fibrin sealant diagnosed by skin tests and basophil activation tests: a case report

Background There are few cases of anaphylaxis after local application of fibrin sealant diagnosed by skin tests. Case presentation A 49-year-old woman underwent partial lung resection under general anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced uneventfully. Shortly after applying absorbable suture reinforcement felt that contained fibrin sealant, her systolic blood pressure fell to approximately 70 mmHg, along with facial flushing. Anaphylaxis was diagnosed based on the clinical symptoms and high serum tryptase levels. Three months after the event, skin tests were performed with all agents and were positive only for fibrin sealant vial no. 2, whose main component is aprotinin. Subsequently, basophil activation tests using fibrin sealant vial no. 2 and pure aprotinin demonstrated that the causative agent was likely aprotinin. Conclusions We diagnosed aprotinin-induced anaphylaxis using skin tests and basophil activation tests. The occurrence of anaphylaxis should be considered when changes in vital signs are observed after the use of fibrin sealant.

Effects of Therapy with Fibrin Glue combined with Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) on Bone Regeneration: A Systematic Review

Cell therapy strategies using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) carried in fibrin glue have shown promising results in regenerative medicine. MSCs are crucial for tissue healing because they have angiogenic, anti-apoptotic and immunomodulatory properties, in addition to the ability to differentiate into several specialized cell lines. Fibrin sealant or fibrin glue is a natural polymer involved in the coagulation process. Fibrin glue provides a temporary structure that favors angiogenesis, extracellular matrix deposition and cell-matrix interactions. Additionally, fibrin glue maintains the local and paracrine functions of MSCs, providing tissue regeneration through less invasive clinical procedures. Thus, the objective of this systematic review was to assess the potential of fibrin glue combined with MSCs in bone or cartilage regeneration. The bibliographic search was performed in the PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS and Embase databases, using the descriptors (“fibrin sealant” OR “fibrin glue”) AND “stem cells” AND “bone regeneration”, considering articles published until 2021. In this case, 12 preclinical and five clinical studies were selected to compose this review, according to the eligibility criteria. In preclinical studies, fibrin glue loaded with MSCs, alone or associated with bone substitute, significantly favored bone defects regeneration compared to scaffold without cells. Similarly, fibrin glue loaded with MSCs presented considerable potential to regenerate joint cartilage injuries and multiple bone fractures, with significant improvement in clinical parameters and absence of postoperative complications. Therefore, there is clear evidence in the literature that fibrin glue loaded with MSCs, alone or combined with bone substitute, is a promising strategy for treating lesions in bone or cartilaginous tissue.

Incidental Durotomy Following Surgery for Degenerative Lumbar Disease and the Impact of Minimally Invasive Surgical Technique on the Rate and Need for Surgical Revision: A Case Series

BACKGROUND Incidental durotomy (ID) is a common complication during lumbar spine surgery. A paucity of literature has studied the impact of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) on durotomy rates and strategies for repair as compared to open surgery. OBJECTIVE To examine the impact that MIS techniques have on the durotomy rate, repair techniques, and need for surgical revision following surgery for degenerative lumbar disease as compared to open technique. METHODS A single-center retrospective review of consecutive cases between 2013 and 2016 was performed. All patients underwent lumbar decompression with or without instrumented fusion for degenerative pathology using either open posterior or MIS techniques. ID rate, closure technique, and need for surgical revision related to the durotomy were recorded. RESULTS A total of 1,196 patients were included with an overall ID rate of 6.8%. There was no difference between open or minimally invasive surgical techniques (P = .14). There was a higher durotomy rate with open technique in patients that underwent decompression with fusion (P = .03) as well as in revision cases (P = .02). Primary repair was feasible more frequently in the open group (P = .001), whereas use of dural substitute (P &lt; .001) was more common in the MIS group. Fibrin sealant was used routinely in both groups (P = .34). There were no failed repairs, regardless of technique used. CONCLUSION MIS techniques may reduce durotomies in cases involving instrumentation or revisions. Use of dural substitute onlay and fibrin sealant was effective at preventing reoperation. Both MIS and open techniques result in a low rate of future surgical revision when a durotomy occurs.