Pilot study comparing the two hemostatic agents in patients undergoing partial nephrectomy

BACKGROUND: Recently studies have demonstrated improved outcomes in patients undergoing nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) for low stage renal tumors, thus NSS is widely accepted as the treatment option for these patients. With NSS, there is a risk of renal hemorrhage and thus haemostatic agents may be routinely applied to the cut surface of the kidney. Herein we compare two commercially available haemostatic agents applied intra-operatively to the cut surface of the kidney. Post-operative outcomes (oncologic and non-oncologic) are reported. METHODS: The medical records of 23 patients with suspicious renal mass documented on axial imaging and who underwent open NSS via a mini-subcostal incision were extensively reviewed. One of two haemostatic agents (Floseal(®), n = 11; Arista(®), n = 12) was intra-operatively applied to the cut surface of the kidney. Chi-square and T- student test was used to compare outcomes between the cohort of 11 patients who had Floseal(®) and the 12 patients who had Arista(®). RESULTS: Median pre-operative size of renal mass was 4.3 cm (range 1.5-7.0 cm). Final pathology revealed 3 oncocytomas and 20 renal cell carcinoma (17 clear cell, 1 chromophobe and 2 papillary), pT1a = 14 and pT1b = 6. Mean intra-operative blood loss and hospital stay between the Floseal(®)vs. Arista(®) cohorts did not significantly differ (227 mL vs. 250 mL, p = 0.68 and 4.4 days vs. 4.5 days, p = 0.76, respectively). Intra-operative and post-operative complications were not different between the two cohorts. No recurrences have been documented with a mean follow-up of 18 months. CONCLUSION: Along with meticulous surgical technique, the use of either haemostatic agent (Floseal(®) or Arista(®)) was not associated with high rate of intra-operative or post-operative haemorrhage. Thus either haemostatic agent may be successfully used during NSS.