[Fibrin-collagen patch (TachoComb) in general surgery. Indications and results].

UNLABELLED: Adequate hemostasis is an important part of any surgical procedure, by open or minimally-invasive approach. The aim of this study was to evaluate the indications and the effect of absorbable fibrin-collagen patch--FCP (TachoComb).

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study in the First Surgical Clinic Iaşi, during 2000-2006. We evaluated the use and the results of FCP in different types of surgical procedures.

RESULTS

A total of 245 patients underwent local hemostatic treatment during surgery. FCP was used in biliary surgery (50 patients), hepatic surgery (39 patients), surgery of the spleen (20 cases), pancreatic surgery (14), colo-rectal surgery (28), surgery of the thyroid gland (20), digestive sutures (39), thoracic surgery (3), surgery in retroperitoneum region (6), gynecologic and urologic procedures (7) and other types of surgical procedures (15). The results of the FCP use were: "very good" in 143 cases (58.4%), "good" at 64 cases (26.1%), "adequate" in 31 cases (12.6%) and "inadequate" at 7 patients (2.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

The efficacy of FCP in local hemostasis is excellent. The use of FCP decrease the rate of conversions in laparoscopic surgery and is essential for spleen preserving surgery. The use of FCP in the treatment of digestive fistula is inadequate. FCP (TachoComb) is too expansive for some surgical units.