- Chief of Neurosurgical Spine and Education, Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY, USA
Correspondence Address:
Nancy E. Epstein
Chief of Neurosurgical Spine and Education, Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY, USA
DOI:10.4103/2152-7806.139668
Copyright: © 2014 Epstein NE. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.How to cite this article: Epstein NE. Tisseel utilized as hemostatic in spine surgery impacts time to drain removal and length of stay. Surg Neurol Int 28-Aug-2014;5:
How to cite this URL: Epstein NE. Tisseel utilized as hemostatic in spine surgery impacts time to drain removal and length of stay. Surg Neurol Int 28-Aug-2014;5:. Available from: http://sni.wpengine.com/surgicalint_articles/cystic-spinal-schwannomas-a-short-series-of-six-cases-can-we-predict-them-preoperatively/
Abstract
Background:Although fibrin sealants (FSs) and fibrin glues (FGs) are predominantly utilized to strengthen repairs of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistulas (deliberate/traumatic) during spinal surgery, they are also increasingly utilized to achieve hemostasis. Here, we investigated whether adding Tisseel (Baxter International Inc., Westlake Village, CA, USA), utilized to address increased bleeding during multilevel lumbar laminectomies with non-instrumented fusions, would reduce or equalize the time to drain removal and length of stay (LOS) without contributing to infections or prolonging time to fusion.
Methods:Prospectively, 39 patients underwent multilevel laminectomies and 1-2 level non-instrumented (in situ) fusions to address stenosis/olisthesis; 22 who demonstrated increased intraoperative bleeding received Tisseel, while 17 without such bleeding did not.
Results:The 22 receiving versus 17 not receiving Tisseel, with similar clinical parameters, underwent comparable average multilevel laminectomies (4.36 and 4.25) and 1-2 level fusions (1.4 vs. 1.29 levels). As anticipated, for those receiving Tisseel, the average intraoperative estimated blood loss (EBL), total postoperative blood loss, and total perioperative transfusion requirements [red blood cells (RBC), fresh frozen plasma (FFP), platelets] were higher. However, Tisseel had the added benefit of equalizing the time to postoperative drain removal [e.g. 3.41 days (with) vs. 3.38 days (without)] and LOS [e.g. 5.86 days (with) vs. 5.82 days (without)] without increasing the infection rates (e.g. one superficial infection per group) or average times to fusion (e.g. 5.9 vs. 5.5 months).
Conclusions:Adding Tisseel for increased bleeding during multilevel laminectomies/in situ fusions contributed to hemostasis by equalizing the average times to drain removal/LOS compared to patients without increased bleeding and not requiring Tisseel.
Keywords: CSF fistulas: Epidural steroid injections, Fibrin sealant: Hemostasis, Lumbar laminectomy, Non-instrumented fusions, Punctate CSF Fistulas, Tisseel
INTRODUCTION
Although fibrin sealants (FSs) and fibrin glues (FGs) are predominantly utilized to strengthen repairs of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistulas (e.g. deliberate/traumatic) occurring during spinal surgery, they are also increasingly applied to achieve hemostasis. Here, one FS, Tisseel (Baxter International Inc., Westlake Village, CA, USA), was utilized to control increased intraoperative bleeding encountered during 22 multilevel lumbar laminectomies with non-instrumented fusions. Results were compared with those of 17 other patients undergoing comparable procedures in the same time period, who did not demonstrate increased bleeding and, therefore, did not receive/require Tisseel. We specifically asked whether Tisseel indirectly contributed to hemostasis as measured by reducing or equalizing the time to postoperative drain removal and length of stay (LOS). Additional questions raised included whether Tisseel increased the infection rate and/or time to/or rate of fusion.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Prospectively, 39 patients with multilevel spinal stenosis [e.g. ossification of the yellow ligament (OYL), disc disease, synovial cysts, and instability (e.g. grade I-II spondylolisthesis, spondylolisthesis/spondylolysis, or unilateral extended or full facetectomy for far lateral disc herniations) underwent multilevel laminectomies with 1-2 level non-instrumented (in situ) postero-lateral fusions utilizing lamina autograft and NanOss Bioactive (Pioneer Surgical, Marquette, MI, USA) [Tables
Preoperatively, patients stopped anti-platelet aggregants and anticoagulants
Patients were asked to stop baby Aspirin 81 mg at least 2–3 weeks prior to surgery, along with other medications/foods/vitamin and herbal supplements that are known anti-platelet aggregants or anticoagulants. Preoperatively, patients had to have normal prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), International Normalized Ratio (INR), and platelet aggregation screening studies.
Twenty-two patients with increased intraoperative bleeding received Tisseel. These patients averaged 65.8 years of age, and were followed over an average of 13.9 months (range 7-24 months) [
6 Patients exhibited puncate CSF fistulas attributed to prior epidural steroid injections
A subset of 6 patients also exhibited punctate CSF fistulas attributed to prior epidural steroid injections (ESI); 19 had undergone an average of 4.3 ESI, the last having been administered an average of 2.6 weeks prior to surgery [Tables
17 Patients without increased intraoperative bleeding did not require Tisseel
Seventeen patients without increased intraoperative bleeding did not require Tisseel. They averaged 65.29 years of age, and were followed over an average of 14.4 postoperative months (range 8-22 months). Significant medical comorbidities included: moderate/marked osteoporosis (12 patients), hypertension (9 patients), obesity (7 patients), and anemia (2 due to cancer/chemotherapy) [
Of interest, although 14 patients had received an average of 4.0 injections per patient an average of 5.2 weeks prior to surgery, none exhibited punctate CSF fistulas secondary to the ESI, [Tables
Intraoperative application of Tisseel utilizing the sandwich technique
The 3-layer “sandwich technique” was utilized to apply Tisseel in 22 patients.[
RESULTS
Comparable clinical and surgical data for both patient groups (receiving vs. not receiving Tisseel)
Several clinical (e.g. average age, sex ratio, follow-up interval, duration of surgery, etc.) and surgical parameters (e.g. average extent of laminectomy/fusion) were similar for patients in both groups [Tables
Greater estimated blood loss and total postoperative blood loss for those receiving versus not receiving Tisseel
The average estimated blood loss (EBL) and range of EBL were higher for those receiving Tisseel [e.g. average EBL 209.1 cc (range 100-600 cc) (with Tisseel) vs. 157.7 cc (range 50-300) (without Tisseel)] [Tables
Greater transfusion requirements for those receiving versus not receiving Tisseel
Perioperative transfusion requirements were higher for patients receiving Tisseel for increased intraoperative bleeding versus for those without such bleeding and not receiving Tisseel. Those receiving Tisseel required 15 Units (U) of packed red blood cells (RBC), 5 U of fresh frozen plasma (FFP), and 3 U of platelets vs. for those not receiving Tisseel who had lower transfusion requriementes (e.g. 5 U of RBC, 1 U of FFP, and 1 U of platelets) [
Comparable morbidity for patients receiving versus not receiving Tisseel
The incidence of major perioperative morbidities [e.g. including deep venous thrombosis (DVT)/pulmonary embolism (PE), postoperative hematomas/seromas, and postoperative infections] were comparable for both groups. Although two patients receiving Tisseel had DVT/PE, one with a PE on the first postoperative night clearly had had a PE prior to admission. Notably, no patients from either group experienced postoperative hematomas or seromas. One patient from each group developed a superficial wound infection 1 month postoperatively; both were successfully managed with 10 days of antibiotic therapy. Notably, both patients had high body mass indexes (BMI: >35), and the one receiving Tisseel was also a diabetic.
Comparable time to fusion for those receiving versus not receiving Tisseel
For patients undergoing multilevel laminectomy with non-instrumented fusion with versus without Tisseel, the average times to fusion were nearly the same (5.9 vs. 5.5 months, respectively), while one from each group developed an asymptomatic pseudarthrosis that did not require further surgery [
Comparable times until drain removal with/without Tisseel
The protocol was to remove drains when the drainage for the prior 12-h shift was <30 cc. Despite a total higher average amount of drainage for patients receiving versus not receiving Tisseel, patients exhibited nearly identical average time (days) to postoperative drain removal [e.g. 3.41 days (with Tisseel) vs. 3.38 days (without Tisseel)] [
Comparable LOS with/without Tisseel
The average LOS for those receiving versus not receiving Tisseel were also comparable [5.86 days (with Tisseel) vs. 5.82 days (without Tisseel)]. The average LOS for both groups should be reduced by 0.5 days as approximately half of each group had been admitted one the day prior to surgery [
Preoperative anemia correlated with greater transfusion requirements in both groups
Preoperative anemia in either group, defined as a preoperative hematocrit (HCT) of 32 in the operating room following intravenous hydration (e.g. typically consisting of Normal Saline 500 cc) prior to making an incision, correlated with greater perioperative transfusion requirements [
DISCUSSION
Anticipated greater EBL, volume of postoperative drainage, and transfusion requirements for those receiving versus not receiving Tisseel
During multilevel laminectomies and non-instrumented fusions, those exhibiting increased intraoperative bleeding received Tisseel to promote hemostasis while those without such increased bleeding did not. As anticipated, therefore, those receiving Tisseel exhibited greater EBL, postoperative drainage, and perioperative transfusion requirements (especially if they were anemic preoperatively) [Tables
Tisseel indirectly contributed to hemostasis allowing for comparable times to drain removal and LOS versus in those not requiring Tisseel
Tisseel indirectly contributed to postoperative hemostasis as both groups demonstrated nearly equivalent times to postoperative drain removal [3.41 (with Tisseel) vs. 3.38 (without Tisseel) days] and LOS (e.g. 5.86 vs. 5.82 days) [Tables
Preoperative anemia correlated with greater perioperative transfusion requirements for patients receiving versus not receiving Tisseel
Preoperative anemia in either group correlated with greater perioperative transfusion requirements [
A higher incidence of comorbid factors likely contributed to increased intraoperative bleeding in patients receiving Tisseel
Multiple comorbid factors likely contributed to increased intraoperative bleeding for those receiving Tisseel versus those not receiving Tisseel. These included: A higher incidence of moderate/severe osteoporosis (21 of 22 vs. 12 of 17), more obesity [BMI >30: 13 patients with Tisseel (7 with >35 BMI) vs. 7 without Tisseel], anemia (8 vs. 3), and coronary artery disease (CAD)/stents (4 vs. 0) [
Clinical evidence that Tisseel promotes hemostasis
When used clinically, Tisseel successfully facilitatess cranial and spinal hemostasis and limits bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) diffusion (a benefit), but may inhibit spinal fusion.[
Other clinical evidence showing that Tisseel increased fusion rates and reduced the incidence of infections when combined with antibiotics
Clinically, the addition of FS/FG contributed to the spinal fusion rate when combined with bone graft products, or reduced infection rates when combined with antibiotics. Fibrin glue, in this case consisting of a unique platelet-rich gel plus autograft/allograft, accelerated bony deposition and tissue healing, while also increasing bone density 3 months following 14-instrumented PLF.[
Other pros and cons for FS/FG or Tisseel demonstrated in animal models
Several other pros and cons were demonstrated for FS/FG tested in animal models.[
FS/FG fails or succeeds in reducing epidural fibrosis
In two animal models, FS/FG either failed or succeeded in the reducton of postoperative epidural fibrosis. In a rat spinal surgery model, FG alone or mixed with steroids failed to reduce postoperative epidural fibrosis. Alternatively, in a sheep model, Adcon-Gel (Tributyrin; Gliatech, Cleveland, OH, USA) effectively reduced posterior spinal epidural adhesions following laminectomies.[
Animal model demonstrating efficacy of FS Impregnated with Injectable Calcium Phosphate and rh-BMP-2 for vertebroplasty
Supplementing injectable calcium phosphate cement (ICPC) with FS impregnated with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rh-BMP-2) proved to be an effective alternative to poly methylmethacrylate (PMMA) for performing vertebroplasties in New Zealand rabbits.[
Limitations
In this study, multiple variables may have contributed to the reduction in the time to drain removal and LOS for those receiving versus not receiving Tisseel. We were unable to differentiate the volume of postoperative drainage from the epidural compartment (should be reduced with Tisseel) versus drainage from the decorticated transverse processes (should be comparable in both groups) versus overall soft tissue of the wound. Among the patients receiving Tisseel for increased intraoperative bleeding, hematology diagnosed von Willebrand disease in one patient, but may have failed to pick up other factor deficiencies in the remainder. Additionally, there were only a small number of patients in both groups as the study only started after we elected to prospectively apply Tisseel (1) for hemostasis alone and (2) only in the most recent patients fused with lamina autograft and NanOss Bioactive. Future studies warrant more patients in both populations to achieve greater validity.
CONCLUSION
Twenty-two patients received Tisseel for increased intraoperative bleeding encountered during multilevel laminectomies and non-instrumented fusions performed for stenosis/instability. In comparision, 17 comparable patients without increased bleeding received no Tisseel. As anticipated, the former 22 patients receiving Tisseel exhibited increased postoperative EBL, total drainage, and higher transfusion requirements versus the 17 patients not receiving Tisseel. We found, however, that the addition of Tisseel equalized the average time to postoperative drain removal (e.g. 3.4 days) and average LOS (5.8 days). for the two groups.
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