The bipolar sealing device: reducing blood loss in orthopaedic surgery

Perioperative blood management continues to be a challenge in major orthopaedic surgical procedures. Techniques used have varied through the years, and ongoing attempts to minimize patients' exposure to allogeneic blood continue to be explored. To date, the majority of blood management options focus on either blood replacement with safe effective blood products or the preoperative stimulation of red blood cell production in the surgical patient with erythropoietin. This article describes a new device that uses thermal energy to inhibit blood loss from soft tissue and bone during orthopaedic surgery. Early clinical trials indicate that the bipolar device may reduce blood loss and decrease exposure to blood transfusions.