Autologous whole plasma fibrin gel. Intraoperative procurement
A. R. Hartman, D. K. Galanakis, M. P. Honig, F. C. Seifert and C. E. Anagnostopoulos
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital, State University of New York, Stony Brook 11794.
Fibrin glue is a relatively recent addition to the armamentarium of
hemostatic agents for surgical use. Its efficacy has been repeatedly
demonstrated in almost all surgical disciplines and subspecialties. Its use
in the United States has been limited because of the risk of viral
transmission associated with the use of human plasma. Previous authors have
described techniques that limit this risk, but they are frequently
impractical, expensive, or cumbersome. We describe the use of patients' own
fresh plasma to make fibrin gel at the operative field. It provided
hemostasis at least as good as that from heterologous plasma glue in 40
cardiac surgical patients. Autologous whole plasma fibrin gel is
inexpensive and safe and eliminates the risk of viral transmission
associated with glue derived from heterologous donor plasma.
