Clinical trial of calcium alginate haemostatic swabs

The influence of a new haemostatic material on surgical bleeding was evaluated in 100 patients who were prospectively randomized to either normal surgical gauze or calcium alginate swabs used throughout cholecystectomy (n = 40), simple mastectomy (n = 18) or inguinal hernia repair (n = 42). Overall, median (range) blood loss was 91(3–329) ml for gauze and was significantly reduced by calcium alginate swabs to 72(2–181)ml (P<0·05). Unexpectedly, operation times were also shortened from 45(17–95) min for gauze to 35(13–70) min with calcium alginate swabs (P < 0.02). This reduction in blood loss and operating time was greatest for mastectomy, was still statistically significant for cholecystectomy, but was unimportant in inguinal hernia repair. Calcium alginate haemostatic swabs may become routine in major surgery, particularly where blood loss leads to the need for transfusion.