Vascular Solutions launches Thrombidisc topical haemostat in the USA

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Vascular Solutions has announced the US market launch of Thrombidisc topical haemostat, a thrombin-based pad used as an adjunct to manual compression to control surface bleeding from vascular access sites and percutaneous catheters or tubes.

According to the press release, the Thrombidisc topical haemostat is a sterile pad one inch in diameter containing lyophilised bovine thrombin, a protein substance that gives the bandage its bleeding control properties, and silver chloride, which provides antimicrobial properties. A pre-formed slit and a 4mm diameter hole in the centre of the pad allow easy placement of ThrombiDisc around indwelling lines up to 12 French in diameter.

“Effective control of bleeding around indwelling vascular access devices such as central venous catheters and peripherally-inserted central catheters is a clinical imperative that Thrombidisc was designed specifically to meet,” says Howard Root, chief executive officer of Vascular Solutions. “Thrombidisc builds on Vascular Solutions’ long experience in the use of lyophilised bovine thrombin as a topical haemostat in a variety of clinical settings. While other pads placed around indwelling lines merely absorb blood, Thrombidisc addresses the bleeding problem with an active ingredient. In vitro testing has demonstrated Thrombidisc’s ability to create a much quicker clot compared to the two most popular alternatives.”


Thrombidisc also contains the antimicrobial ingredient silver chloride. In the presence of fluids, such as blood and wound fluids, ionic silver is released from the silver chloride to prevent microorganisms commonly encountered in the clinical setting from colonising on the pad. Ionic silver, an atom of silver that is missing one electron, provides its antimicrobial property by altering protein structures and preventing bacterial cells from carrying out normal functions.

The press release further reports that in vitro testing demonstrated that representative samples of ThrombiDisc killed at least 99.99% of seven common microbes known to cause catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) after 24 hours of contact. The antimicrobial properties of Thrombidisc have not been clinically tested, and the in vitro test results have not been determined to correlate with a reduction in infections.