Gelatin Paste as an Alternative Cost-Effective Hemostatic Agent in Cranial Surgery: Doing More with Less.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To present an alternative cost-effective hemostatic agent (HA) for cranial surgery and to describe the technique to produce it. METHODS: This HA has been used in 3 reference centers over the last year during 230 procedures, including different types of pathology, such as skull base, oncology, vascular, and trauma, either for endoscopic or open approaches. This agent was made from a low-cost and worldwide-available gelatin foam which was mixed with saline solution in 2 syringes and connected by a 3-way stopcock, making a useful hemostatic paste. RESULTS: The cost was 16 and 28 times less than SURGIFLO and FLOSEAL, respectively. The mean time to prepare the mix was 4 minutes. It was very effective for venous and low-flow bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: The presented technique offers a reliable and cost-effective way of achieving hemostasis in cranial surgery, therefore allowing hospitals with limited resources to perform advanced procedures in a safer way.