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Pedicled pericardial fat pad: a useful hemostatic supplement
G C Economopoulos1, P D Sfirakis, D A Zarkalis
1Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece.
Insights
Cardiac surgery patients with difficult-to-suture bleeding areas can benefit from a pedicled pericardial fat pad. This surgical adjunct effectively controlled bleeding in all 9 patients studied.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Surgical Hemostasis
Background:
- Controlling bleeding in friable, edematous, or calcified cardiac tissues is challenging.
- Standard suturing techniques may be insufficient for hemostasis in these difficult areas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a pedicled pericardial fat pad as an adjunct for controlling bleeding in challenging cardiac surgical sites.
Main Methods:
- A pedicled pericardial fat pad graft was utilized in 9 patients experiencing bleeding.
- Application targeted difficult-to-suture locations including the atria, coronary sinus, aorta, and myocardium.
Main Results:
- The pedicled pericardial fat pad technique successfully and completely controlled bleeding in all 9 patients.
- The method proved to be an easy and effective adjunct for managing surgical hemorrhage.
Conclusions:
- A pedicled pericardial fat pad is a valuable supplement for achieving hemostasis when sutures alone are inadequate.
- This technique offers a viable solution for managing bleeding in complex cardiac surgical scenarios.
Abstract:
Control of bleeding in areas difficult to suture because of tissue friability, edema, or calcification poses a serious problem in cardiac surgery patients. We report the use of a pedicled pericardial fat pad as an adjunct to the control of bleeding in these difficult-to-suture areas. This technique was used in 9 patients who were bleeding from different areas (the atria, coronary sinus, aorta, and myocardium), and the bleeding was completely and easily controlled. We consider the pedicled pericardial fat pad to be a useful supplement when suturing alone cannot effectively bring the bleeding under control.