Endoscopic Powder for Haemostasis: A Breakthrough in Minimally Invasive Surgery
Securing haemostasis effectively is essential for positive surgical outcomes. It not only limits blood loss during surgery but also lowers risks of transfusion and complications after the procedure. In minimally invasive surgeries like laparoscopy or endoscopy, controlling bleeding is especially challenging due to limited space, visibility, and anatomical intricacy.
With the rise of less invasive surgery, adaptable and efficient haemostatic agents are more vital than ever, especially where standard techniques fail.
Why Bleeding Control in MIS is Difficult
While MIS offers benefits such as shorter recovery and less scarring compared to open surgery, it brings new challenges. But the same factors that make MIS appealing also make bleeding control more difficult. Reduced access, poor visualisation, and no sense of touch make handling bleeding in MIS more difficult.
Traditional methods—sutures, ligation, or electrocautery—are often impractical in these settings. Here, topical haemostats such as endoscopic powders become essential, helping to control bleeding and improve surgical efficiency.
Spotlight on Surgi-ORC®-Based Endoscopic Powder
Among haemostatic powders, plant-based, absorbable types like Surgi-ORC® have demonstrated both safety and effectiveness. ORC was first introduced in 1943 in sheet form and has since evolved to meet the demands of modern MIS through powder formulations.
Key Benefits of Surgi-ORC® Endoscopic Powder
• Effective Haemostasis: ORC facilitates platelet adhesion and aggregation to accelerate clotting
• Shape Plasticity: The granular structure of powdered haemostats and their shape plasticity allows them to conform easily to large and deep surface wounds
• Plant-Based Safety: Free from animal or human components, it reduces risks of immune reactions and disease transmission
• Antibacterial Environment: The oxidation process lowers pH, creating an acidic microenvironment that offers bactericidal benefits
• Fully Absorbable: Powder dissolves safely, posing no harm to nerves or vessels
These characteristics make Surgi-ORC® endoscopic powder an ideal choice for managing mild to moderate bleeding—especially capillary, venous, or small arterial oozing in confined spaces.
Optimizing Application with Delivery Devices in MIS
How the powder is delivered greatly influences its effectiveness in surgery. Most MIS procedures rely on bellows-type applicators for controlled and accurate powder delivery.
How It Works
Syringe-style bellows devices, fitted with short or long tips, can deliver powder through MIS access points. Compressing the bellows dispenses a controlled amount of powder right onto the bleed, maintaining clear visibility.
Best Practices for Using Endoscopic Powder
• Orientation: The angle of device orientation (vertical vs. horizontal) has a significant impact on the amount and spread of the powder. Surprisingly, orientation often affects performance more than the speed or force of compression
• Powder Characteristics: Particle size, flow, and how the powder handles moisture will affect performance
• Surgeon Technique: Output depends on the speed and force used when compressing the bellows
Clinical Uses of Endoscopic Powder
In cases where visibility is poor or anatomy is complex, endoscopic powder becomes an essential tool. Its flexible form lets it cover both wide wounds and tight spaces with equal efficiency.
Endoscopic Powder is Commonly Used For:
• Liver resections performed laparoscopically
• Cardiothoracic MIS cases
• Gynaecologic laparoscopic procedures
• Endoscopic submucosal dissections (ESD)
• Urologic procedures
Endoscopic powders boost surgical efficiency by speeding up haemostasis, cutting transfusion needs, and improving results.
Clinical Data Supporting ORC Powder
A postmarket clinical study evaluating SURGICEL® Powder (ORC-based haemostatic agent) in 103 patients undergoing various surgical procedures reported:
• 87.4% of patients had bleeding stopped in 5 minutes; 92.2% within 10 minutes
• Effective in both open and MIS procedures
• No product-related complications—no rebleeding, thromboembolism, or adverse reactions
• Surgeons noted its ease of use, accuracy, and minimal need for extra measures
Overall, the data shows SURGICEL® Powder as a safe, effective, and adaptable haemostatic agent—especially when conventional tools aren’t enough.
Final Thoughts
As MIS continues to evolve, so does the demand for advanced haemostatic tools. ORC-based Endoscopic Powder endoscopic powders offer surgeons rapid, flexible, and reliable bleeding control options.
Whether you're managing bleeding in a deep pelvic space, a raw liver surface, or a narrow endoscopic field, ORC endoscopic powder delivers the performance and flexibility modern surgery requires—safely and effectively.
References
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