The Use of Hemostatic Agents to Decrease Surgical Drain Time in General Plastic Surgery Procedures.

BACKGROUND

Drains can be used in general plastic surgery procedures given the extensive undermining of tissue. Our primary goal was to investigate whether hemostatic agents used during general plastic surgery procedures could decrease drain time length. Secondary goals were to investigate whether hemostatic agents decreased seromas and hematomas.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was conducted including patients undergoing bilateral breast reduction (BBR), abdominoplasty, or panniculectomy. Data collected included use of hemostatic agent (fibrin sealant [EVICEL] or combination powder [HEMOBLAST Bellows]), time to surgical drain removal, and postoperative complications (seroma, hematoma, and operative reintervention). Statistical analyses included t tests and Fisher exact test where appropriate.

RESULTS

A total of 351 patients were included. For both the abdominoplasty/panniculectomy and BBR groups, there were statistically significant reductions in surgical drain duration with combination powder compared with no hemostatic agent-13.5 versus 27.9 days for abdominoplasty/panniculectomy (P < 0.001), 7.1 versus 8.7 days for BBR (P = 0.042). There were no statistically significant differences in incidence of hematomas, seromas, or operative reintervention among any groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of hemostatic agents such as fibrin sealant or combination powder in general plastic surgery procedures is associated with a statistically significant reduction in postoperative surgical drain duration.