Ethicon’s VISTASEAL Fibrin Sealant (Human) can help surgeons manage bleeding during surgery

Many patients today are entering the operating room with multiple factors that can cause disruptive bleeding during surgery, which can be challenging to manage and potentially dangerous. To help address this, Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies announced today that Ethicon has launched VISTASEAL Fibrin Sealant (Human) to help surgeons manage bleeding during surgery.

VISTASEAL Fibrin Sealant (Human) contains a combination of fibrinogen and thrombin, clotting proteins found in human plasma. When applied to the bleeding site, it forms a rapid, adherent, and durable clot and has been demonstrated to sustain hemostasis (stoppage of bleeding), even in high-risk patients. In three randomized controlled trials, VISTASEAL was associated with a lower overall hemostatic retreatment rate (0.9%-7.8%) compared to standard treatments (8.0%-16.7%).

Surgical patients often present with multiple risk factors such as coagulopathies, uncontrolled diabetes, renal or liver failure or are taking anticoagulants or chronic antiplatelet therapies that may interfere with the body's natural ability to form a clot, which increases the risk of surgical bleeding. VISTASEAL has the potential to offer a rapid, adherent, durable clot even in my most demanding cases."

David Kwon, MD, FACS, Director of Surgical Oncology, Henry Ford Hospital

VISTASEAL is the first innovation to emerge from Ethicon's strategic partnership with plasma industry leader Grifols, which developed the VISTASEAL Fibrin Sealant (Human) and licensed it to Ethicon. The collaboration combines Ethicon's expertise in developing device technology with Grifols' ability to produce critical plasma-based therapies.

VISTASEAL is the first fibrin sealant exclusively designed to be sprayed without gas in both open and minimally invasive procedures, and it comes in pre-filled syringes. This eliminates some of the steps required for set-up with gas and may save valuable time in the operating room. The VISTASEAL Dual Applicator tip is also uniquely malleable enabling access to difficult anatomy and enhanced spray control.

Throughout a surgical procedure, bleeding must be controlled not only to provide a clear view of the operative site, but also to prevent the adverse clinical outcomes associated with blood loss. An estimated 32 to 68 percent of cases in open surgery procedures experience disruptive bleeding events.

VISTASEAL is indicated as an adjunct to hemostasis for mild to moderate bleeding in adults undergoing surgery when control of bleeding by standard surgical techniques (such as suture, ligature, and cautery) are ineffective or impractical. VISTASEAL is effective in patients treated with heparin (blood thinner).

VISTASEAL is the latest addition to our broad portfolio of primary and adjunctive hemostat solutions that address the growing and wide-ranging challenges surgeons face in managing bleedingWe will continuously aim to advance the standard of care in surgery to better serve health care professionals and improve outcomes for patients."

Oray Boston, President, Global Biosurgery, Ethicon