494a - 494a: Thrombin Used as Haemostaticum in Prostata Operations

Thrombin is made according to Cohn's technique. This product is used to some extent in neurosurgery, but recently its use has been adopted in urology in prostate operations.During Freyer's prostatectomy severe bleeding in the prostate area often occurs, which is difficult to cope with. This is a very serious complication in the patients, who are often elderly, and blood transfusions become necessary in the post-operative period.Efforts have been made in Professor Knutzon's department at the Municipal Hospital (Kommunehospitalet) to counteract these bleedings with thrombin, using two tampons soaked with 400 units thrombin dissolved in 10 ml water. The results are very promising, though the figures are as yet too small for any final conclusions to be drawn. However, in our opinion there is no doubt that the use of thrombin is practicable and avoids many transfusions.