A new device for minor bleeding control and blunt dissection in minimally invasive surgery

Background: Minor bleeding from small vessels could be a major complication in minimally invasive surgery (MIS). All the devices and techniques commonly used in open surgery to control bleeding or perform blunt dissection may be disappointing in endoscopic surgery. Materials and methods: Hydroxylated polyvinyl acetal tampons (HPA) are made by a synthetic, open cell foam structure able to absorb fluids up to 25 times the initial weight. We tested their efficacy for small bleeding control and tissue dissection during several minimally invasive procedures. Results: HPA tampons have been found extremely useful to absorb blood coming from minor and diffuse loss, helping to control bleeding by a combined action of fluid absorption and local compression. The porous design of the tampon allows the use of the suction device right through the tampon itself. Thanks to the initial mildly hard consistency, we also used HPA tampons as dissecting instruments. Conclusions: In our experience the use of HPA tampons resulted extremely efficient for minor bleeding control, fluids removal and tissue dissection during MIS.