Absorbable Gelatin Sponge USP

Absorbable Gelatin Sponge, USP is a sterile, water-insoluble, porous, and pliable medical device made from purified porcine (pig) skin gelatin. It is widely used in surgical procedures as an adjunct to hemostasis—meaning it is used to help stop bleeding.

The primary function of an absorbable gelatin sponge is to provide a mechanical matrix that facilitates blood clotting. When applied to a bleeding surface, its porous structure:

• Absorbs blood: It can absorb many times its own weight in blood and other fluids.

• Activates platelets: The sponge's matrix causes platelets in the blood to aggregate, releasing a series of substances that promote the formation of a fibrin clot.

• Provides a framework: It serves as a physical scaffold for the forming clot, helping to stabilize it and prevent further blood loss.

The sponge itself does not actively alter the blood clotting mechanism but rather acts as a passive, supportive agent.

• Absorbable: One of its main advantages is that it is completely absorbed by the body. When left in soft tissues, it is typically absorbed within four to six weeks. When applied to a mucosal surface (like in the nose or mouth), it can liquefy in as little as two to five days.

• Biocompatible: It is non-toxic, non-allergenic, and does not generally cause significant foreign body reactions or excessive scar tissue formation.

• Versatile: It can be used dry or saturated with sterile saline or a thrombin solution to enhance its hemostatic effect. It can be cut to a specific size and shape to fit the wound site.

Absorbable gelatin sponge is indicated for use in surgical procedures where bleeding from capillaries, veins, and small arterioles cannot be effectively controlled by conventional methods like pressure or sutures. It is used in a wide range of specialties, including:

• General Surgery: To control oozing from denuded surfaces, such as those in the liver, spleen, or gallbladder.

• Dental Surgery: To help manage bleeding following tooth extractions, root amputations, or the removal of cysts.

• Orthopedic Surgery: To control bleeding from bone tissue.

• Otolaryngology (ENT): For use in nasal and sinus surgery to control bleeding.

• Not for Arterial Hemorrhage: It should not be used in cases of active, pumping arterial hemorrhage. It is intended for oozing or seeping bleeding, not high-pressure bleeding.

• Neurological and Ophthalmological Surgery: The use of absorbable gelatin sponge is generally not recommended in neurological or ophthalmological procedures due to the risk of nerve damage from swelling or migration of the sponge.

• Presence of Infection: It should not be used in the presence of an infection as it may serve as a nidus for abscess formation and can potentiate bacterial growth.

• Do Not Overpack: When placed into cavities or closed tissue spaces, it is important to avoid overpacking, as the sponge will swell upon absorbing fluids, which could compress nerves or surrounding tissues.

• Not a Substitute for Surgical Technique: It is an adjunct, not a replacement for proper surgical technique and the use of ligatures or other conventional methods for hemostasis.