Vascular Solutions Launches ThrombiDisc Topical Hemostat

January 21, 2014—Vascular Solutions, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN) announced the United States market launch of the ThrombiDisc topical hemostat, 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 Vascular Solutions, the ThrombiDisc topical hemostat is a sterile pad 1 inch in diameter that is placed directly over the source of the bleeding as an adjunct to manual compression. A preformed slit and a 4-mm–diameter hole in the center of the pad allow for easy placement of the ThrombiDisc around indwelling lines up to 12 F in diameter.

The ThrombiDisc contains lyophilized bovine thrombin, a protein substance that gives the bandage its bleeding-control properties. ThrombiDisc also contains the antimicrobial ingredient silver chloride. In the presence of fluids, such as wound fluids or blood, ionic silver is released from the silver chloride to prevent microorganisms that are commonly encountered in the clinical setting from colonizing 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 ThrombiDisc also contains sodium carboxymethylcellulose and calcium chloride in nonwoven gauze.

The company noted 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 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, advised the company.