Products
ARTISS
Staples or sutures during surgery can leave a dead space under tissue flaps or skin grafts, potentially leading to post-operative fluid accumulation such as haematoma or seroma. Artiss is a premixed, slow-setting fibrin sealant for sealing and adhering subcutaneous tissues in plastic, reconstructive and burn surgery.
The sealant can improve haemostatis on subcutaneous tissue surfaces, says manufacturer Baxter International. Artiss is made from two components of human plasma—sealer protein and thrombin, which, when combined, mimic the final stage of the blood coagulation cascade.
Artiss is sprayed onto the wound, after which surgeons have 60 seconds to position the tissue to ensure a tight seal and adherence to the subcutaneous tissue.
The manufacturer claims that clinical studies show Artiss to be well tolerated and generates similar outcomes to using staples to attach skin grafts in burn patients. Studies also show reduced incidence of haematoma and seroma on Artiss-treated sites on day one, says Baxter.
Plastic surgeon professor Paul McArthur says: “Eliminating the need to remove staples means that patients, particularly young children, will not undergo what is a painful procedure or require an additional anaesthetic. If Artiss proves effective for other plastic and reconstructive surgery procedures, early drain removal or drain-free surgery could mean patients going home sooner.”
Baxter Healthcare 01635 206103; W: baxter.com
