A gel made from a patient's own blood reduces pain and may improve wound healing following endoscopic sinus surgery according to researchers at Rush University Medical Center.
The study, published in the September issue of the Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology, found that patients who received platelet gel reported an easier recovery than patients who received traditional packing to stop bleeding.
The platelet gel is derived from the patient's own plasma and is made in the operating room. After a small amount of the patient's blood is drawn, it is put into a centrifuge machine that separates out the platelet rich plasma. The fact that the platelet gel is derived from the patient's own blood eliminates the risk of acquired diseases possible with other pooled blood products. Following endoscopic surgery, the gel is sprayed into the sinus cavity.
"The gel is rich in wound factors. It contains platelets for clotting, growth hormones for healing, and white cells to fight infection," said Dr. Jay M. Dutton, study co-author and assistant professor of otolaryngology at Rush. "It effectively stops the bleeding and may advance the healing process."
The plasma gel replaces temporary sponges or sterile packing at the surgical site which, according to Dutton, can be uncomfortable, painful and may restrict breathing. Unlike the traditional material, which must be removed after a few days, the plasma gel is absorbed into the sinus cavity and eliminates the need for painful packing removal.