Advance preparation tends to waste many absorbable hemostatic agents

Advance preparation tends to waste many absorbable hemostatic agents



Results of a recent survey suggest that a great deal of unnecessary product waste could be avoided if OR nurses changed their approach to using absorbable hemostatic agents.To get more news about ifak pouch, you can visit rusuntacmed.com official website.

The survey, administered electronically to 200 US registered nurses in late 2014, found that 62% of respondents prepared absorbable hemostatic agents before surgeons asked for them, in an effort to avoid delays during surgical procedures.

In contrast, only 38% of nurses reported that they do not prepare absorbable hemostatic agents until specifically requested by the surgeon.
Overall, nurses reported product waste in 68% of all cases. Most of that waste stemmed from cases in which the absorbable hemostatic agent was prepared in advance of the surgeon’s request, according to the survey conducted by Health Research & Analytics, LLC, Parsippany, New Jersey, and sponsored by C.R. Bard, Inc. (Davol).

Survey participants were OR nurses who circulated or scrubbed in for procedures and who had opened or prepared a variety of types of absorbable hemostatic agents at least 12 times during the preceding 12 months. The hemostatic agents and percentage of respondents who reported opening them were as follows:Of these products, six require mixing or preparation prior to application. Nurses said they spent 2 to 6 minutes preparing these agents: Floseal®, Thrombin, Tisseel®, Surgiflo®, Gelfoam® Plus, and Vitagel®.

In contrast, the other 11 products evaluated in this assessment are considered ready to use. Among the ready-to-use alternatives, several require cutting or sizing prior to application: Avitene™ UltraFoam™, Gelfoam®, Surgicel® (Original, Nu-Knit®, and SNoW®), Surgifoam®, and TachoSil® Patch absorbable hemostatic agents. Others are supplied as powder or fibers and can be applied immediately to the surgical field without advance preparation: Arista™ AH, Avitene™, Instat® MCH, and Surgicel® Fibrillar™.

Given that bleeding-related complications commonly occur during surgery, it is important to have effective and ready-to-use hemostatic agents available. This survey finds that nurses commonly prepare absorbable hemostatic agents in advance, many of which are never used.

Data suggest that use of absorbable hemostatic agents (with established efficacy) that do not require preparation in advance, or that could be returned to the shelf if unused, may lead to a substantial reduction in product waste and costs.