The use of Tachocomb in thoracic surgery

Diffuse bleeding of the thoracic wall still remains a major problem in thoracic surgery. Especially after lysis of strong adhesions of the lung to the parietal pleura blood loss from multiple bleeding points can be quite extensive. The thoracic apex, poorly accessible to visual inspection and electrocoagulation for anatomic reasons, can be a major bleeding source too. The closure of multiple vascular leaks with fibrin sealant alone has not proven to be satisfactorily efficient, since fibrin often is washed away by the bleeding itself. With Tachocomb, a newly developed collagen patch, successful tamponade of large bleeding areas has now become possible. By local positioning of the patch the stopping of bleeding can be achieved easily and quickly. Another important use of Tachocomb in lung surgery is the closure of parenchymal leakage.