Risk of bleeding in surgical patients treated with topical bovine thrombin sealants: a review of the literature.

ABSTRACT:

Background

One of the most anticipated, but potentially serious complications during or after surgery are bleeding events. Among the many potential factors associated with bleeding complications in surgery, the use of bovine thrombin has been anecdotally identified as a possible cause of increased bleeding risk. Most of these reports of bleeding events in association with the use of topical bovine thrombin have been limited to case reports lacking clear cause and effect relationship determination. Recent studies have failed to establish significant differences in the rates of bleeding events between those treated with bovine thrombin and those treated with either human or recombinant thrombin.

Methods

We conducted a search of MEDLINE for the most recent past 10 years (1997-2

SUBMITTER: Reynolds MW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2276484 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature