Control of bleeding from vascular anastomoses using a microcrystalline collagen hemostat

To test the usefulness of the microcrystalline collagen hemostat (MCH) in controlling bleeding from the suture line of small vessels, an experimental study was performed in male Wistar rats weighing 250 g. Seventy-six microvascular anastomoses were performed in 54 animals: by random allocation, 24 venous anastomoses and 14 arterial anastomoses received MCH treatment, 28 venous anastomoses and 14 arterial anastomoses were treated by cotton coverage. The bleeding time from the sture line was significantly shorter for anastomoses treated by MHC than that for vessels treated by cotton pellets (p < 0.01). The venous and arterial specimens obtained from the animals sacrificed 30 days after operation did not show any evidence of thrombosis. There were no early or late post-operative complications directly related to the use of MCH. Our experimental work in rats demonstrates the efficacy of MCH in obtaining a faster control of blood loss from the suture line of anastomosed vessels. Although severe bleeding from a suture line is uncommon, the clinical use of MCH can be justified in certain procedures (e.g., vascular surgery for infants and small children) in which adding more stitches can cause anastomotic stenosis.