Many products are available to the surgeon to facilitate hemostasis in tissue. Most typically, these products are deployed during surgery, but some can be placed on bleeding wounds. These products vary in their biochemistry and their indications for use. Many can be used internally and are absorbed; however, some do not, and this includes the product used in Ms. Razia’s case. The surgeons here used a product commercially distributed as “Thrombi-Pad,” manufactured by Pfizer and distributed by McKesson Medical-Surgical, Inc. The product consists of a 3 x 3-inch dressing made of sodium carboxyl methylcellulose and calcium chloride impregnated with bovine thrombin. According to the instructions for use, the product is “applied topically and is indicated as a trauma dressing for temporary control of moderate to severely bleeding wounds.” The package insert states, “Do not use Thrombi-Pad […] as a replacement for absorbable hemostats. This product contains non-absorbable materials and is not intended to be left in the body.”
Thrombi-Pads for Hemostasis