Revolutionizing Bleeding Control: The Impact of Endoscopic Powder in MIS
Securing haemostasis effectively is essential for positive surgical outcomes. Besides reducing bleeding, proper haemostasis cuts down the chances of transfusions and post-surgical issues. 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.
Challenges of Haemostasis in Minimally Invasive Surgery
Compared to open surgeries, MIS—such as laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures—offers numerous benefits like reduced recovery time and smaller scars. However, these benefits come with the challenge of difficult bleeding management. 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.
Surgi-ORC® Powder: An Innovative Haemostatic Solution
Surgi-ORC® endoscopic powder is a standout, plant-derived, absorbable haemostat with robust clinical backing. Introduced decades ago as a sheet, oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) is now available in powder form for today’s MIS challenges.
Advantages of Surgi-ORC® Endoscopic Powder
• Effective Haemostasis: ORC facilitates platelet adhesion and aggregation to accelerate clotting
• Adaptable Coverage: Powdered ORC easily conforms to irregular or deep wound areas
• No Animal Content: Plant origin means reduced risk of allergic or infectious complications
• Bactericidal Properties: Acidic environment inhibits bacterial growth
• Biodegradable and Safe: Powder is absorbed with no toxicity, even near sensitive structures
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.
Precision Application: Endoscopic Powder Delivery Devices
The choice of delivery device plays a major role in the powder’s performance during MIS. In MIS, bellows pump-based applicators are widely used to deliver endoscopic powder with accuracy and control.
How Bellows Applicators Function
Syringe-style bellows devices, fitted with short or long tips, can deliver powder through MIS access points. The bellows mechanism lets surgeons deposit powder accurately without blocking the field of view.
Key Considerations for Optimal Use
• 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
• Application Style: The surgeon’s technique and compression force also influence powder delivery
Where Endoscopic Powder Excels in Practice
When working in tight spaces or near fragile tissues, endoscopic powder is especially useful. Because of its conformability, surgeons can treat both broad raw surfaces and deep crevices with ease.
Typical Applications:
• Liver resections performed laparoscopically
• Thoracic surgery procedures
• Laparoscopic gynaecologic interventions
• Submucosal dissection cases
• Minimally invasive urology surgeries
By enhancing visibility and enabling faster bleeding control, endoscopic haemostats can shorten operative time, reduce the need for blood products, and contribute to better surgical outcomes [6].
ORC Powder: Efficacy and Safety in Studies
A clinical study of SURGICEL® Powder (an ORC-based agent) on 103 patients revealed:
• 87.4% haemostasis at 5 minutes, rising to 92.2% at 10 minutes
• Strong performance in open and minimally invasive settings
• No complications linked to the product: no rebleeding, clots, or negative 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.
Summary
With minimally invasive surgery on the rise, there’s a growing need for innovative bleeding Endoscopic Powder control solutions. Among these, ORC endoscopic powder has proven to be both efficient and easy for surgeons to use.
No matter the complexity—be it confined spaces, delicate organs, or irregular wounds—ORC endoscopic powder ensures safe, effective bleeding control for today’s surgical demands.
References
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2. De la Torre RA, Bachman SL, Wheeler AA, Bartow KN, Scott JS. Hemostasis and hemostatic agents in minimally invasive surgery. Surgery. 2007 Oct 1;142(4):S39-45.
3. Al-Attar N, de Jonge E, Kocharian R, Ilie B, Barnett E, Berrevoet F. Safety and hemostatic effectiveness of SURGICEL® powder in mild and moderate intraoperative bleeding. Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis. 2023 Jul;29:10760296231190376.
4. Xiao X, Wu Z. A narrative review of different hemostatic materials in emergency treatment of trauma. Emerg Med Int. 2022;2022: 6023261
5. Stark M, Wang AY, Corrigan B, Woldu HG, Azizighannad S, Cipolla G, Kocharian R, De Leon H. Comparative analyses of the hemostatic efficacy and surgical device performance of powdered oxidized regenerated cellulose and starch-based powder formulations. Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis. 2025 Jan 1;9(1):102668.
6. Bustamante-Balén M, Plumé G. Role of hemostatic powders in the endoscopic management of gastrointestinal bleeding. World Journal of Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology. 2014 Aug 15;5(3):284.