DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Baxter International Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved TISSEEL [Fibrin Sealant] to include general hemostasis in surgery when control of bleeding by standard surgical techniques is ineffective or impractical. TISSEEL is effective in heparinized patients. TISSEEL mimics the final stages of the body’s own blood clotting cascade, creating a clot that adheres to the wound surface and helps achieve hemostasis.

“The expanded indication for TISSEEL offers more surgeons an effective tool for controlling bleeding across a wider variety of surgical procedures,” said Sibu Saha, M.D., Professor of Surgery, University of Kentucky. “This includes patients who have been treated with heparin who may have unique treatment challenges, which was the case for some of the patients involved in Baxter’s clinical trials.”

A Phase III clinical study assessed the safety and efficacy of TISSEEL in peripheral vascular surgery compared with manual compression, a standard of care, in 140 evaluable patients (70 patients per treatment arm). In the study, TISSEEL was shown to be statistically significantly better than manual compression in achieving hemostasis. These study results complement a clinical data package showing the safety and effectiveness of the use of TISSEEL as an adjunct to hemostasis.

“TISSEEL and its multiple application devices make it well-suited for a variety of surgical situations, such as open and laparoscopic procedures, reinforcing Baxter’s commitment to supporting solutions to the surgical community,” said Prof. Hartmut J. Ehrlich, M.D., vice president of global research and development in Baxter’s BioScience business.

About TISSEEL
TISSEEL is a fibrin sealant indicated for use as an adjunct to hemostasis in patients undergoing surgery when control of bleeding by conventional surgical techniques (such as suture, ligature, and cautery) is ineffective or impractical. TISSEEL is effective in heparinized patients.

TISSEEL is a fibrin sealant indicated as an adjunct to standard surgical techniques (such as suture and ligature) to prevent leakage from colonic anastomoses following the reversal of temporary colostomies.

About Baxter
Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures and markets products that save and sustain the lives of people with hemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma, and other chronic and acute medical conditions. As a global, diversified healthcare company, Baxter applies a unique combination of expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to create products that advance patient care worldwide.

Posted by Sean Fenske, Editor-in-Chief, MDT